Manchester United are reportedly willing to cough up €20 million to sign 24-year-old Uruguayan midfielder Nicolas De La Cruz this summer.
According to a report by Argentine outlet TNT Sports, Nicolas De La Cruz has popped up on the radar of Manchester United heading into the summer transfer window. The 24-year-old Uruguayan midfielder could leave South American giants River Plate this summer, with the Red Devils ready to shell out €20 million to secure his services.
Nicolas De La Cruz started out at Liverpool FC Montevideo, a club he joined as a 12-year-old in 2009 before breaking into their first-team setup in 2015. After a couple of years within the club’s senior side, the 24-year-old made the step up to South American heavyweights River Plate.
Over the last four years, De La Cruz has featured 118 times for River Plate, with a tally of 19 goals and 28 assists to show for his efforts. His exploits have also helped the midfielder break into the Uruguayan national side, and heading into the summer transfer window, he could be set for a big move to Europe, with Manchester United among the clubs interested in him.
The interest from Manchester United comes as a bit of a surprise, considering just how successful Bruno Fernandes has been at Old Trafford. With the Portuguese international continuing his upward trajectory at Manchester United, the no. 10 slot is one position that appears to be sorted in a squad that could be shuffled around a little.
In fact, Donny van de Beek, who joined the Red Devils from Ajax last summer and has been Bruno Fernandes’s backup option, has struggled for game-time and has been linked with a summer exit. The emergency options behind van de Beek and Fernandes are Juan Mata and Jesse Lingard, and all in all, there is no need for another attacking midfielder unless van de Beek leaves.
With Lingard touted to be eager to remain at Manchester United, it will be curious as to how De La Cruz will fit in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s squad. Nevertheless, it looks like Manchester United are ready to press ahead with their interest in the 24-year-old midfielder and are prepared to pay €20 million to land him.
What now remains to be seen is if De La Cruz becomes a serious target for the Premier League heavyweights this summer. For now, the Uruguayan international is a potential target for Manchester United, who could well launch a €20 million move to swoop him away from South American outfit River Plate.
