Manchester United have reportedly lodged a sensational €60 million bid for Brazilian superstar Douglas Costa, as they seek reinforcements in January.
Manchester United have taken the first step to try and sign Douglas Costa from Juventus in the upcoming transfer window, by making a whopping €60 million offer for the Brazilian international, as per reports from Italian outlet Calciomercato.
The 28-year-old Costa joined Juventus from Bayern Munich in the summer of 2017, initially on loan, before making the transfer permanent this past summer. The Brazilian international enjoyed an excellent debut campaign in Turin, scoring 6 and setting up 14 more in 47 appearances across all competitions, helping Juve to the Serie A title and the Coppa Italia.
However, Costa seems to have fallen out of favour with the Italian champions this time out, following the summer arrival of former Manchester United superstar Cristiano Ronaldo. In the 2018-19 term, the former Bayern Munich superstar has featured just 12 times in the Serie A, nine of which have come from the bench and has contributed with just two assists.
This lack of involvement is believed to have led to mounting frustrations within the 28-year-old and has left him seeking a transfer away from the Bianconeri in January. And Manchester United have offered him a way out of his current situation, by making an offer of €60 million to sign him up.
Manchester United find themselves in unfamiliar territories following a disastrous start to the 2018-19 term under Jose Mourinho. Currently sixth in the table, the Red Devils got rid of the Portuguese tactician and have appointed club legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as the caretaker manager for the rest of the season.
The Norwegian led Manchester United to a thumping 5-1 win over Cardiff City in his first game at the helm, but it is not lost on the management that reinforcements are needed in the January transfer window, if they are to push for a Champions League qualifying berth in the second half of the campaign.
While a new central defender is at the top of the agenda for Manchester United, the right wing position has been a problematic area for the club for a number of years now. The 20-time English champions do not possess an out and out winger in their ranks and have had to use the likes of Jesse Lingard and Juan Mata out on the right flank.
So, it doesn’t come as a surprise that they are ready to pounce on Costa, given that the Brazilian is in the peak years of his career and has abundance of top level experience, having won numerous titles during his time at Shakhtar Donetsk, Bayern Munich and Juventus.
The Bianconeri are believed to have rejected Manchester United’s initial approach, but the Red Devils are expected to go back with another offer. Costa still has three-and-a-half years left on his current contract with the Serie A champions.
Manchester United would stand to benefit greatly from the 28-year-old’s capture, as he is someone with a proven pedigree at the topmost level and would address a problem area in the squad. However, it remains to be seen if they will be able to prize away the Brazilian international from Juventus in January.
