Manchester United are reportedly set to battle Ajax in the pursuit of Swedish forward Pawel Cibicki, who currently plies his trade for Malmo FF.
Manchester United are set to face Ajax in the final of the UEFA Europa League. However, Daily Mirror suggests the duo are set to battle each other off-field as well, in the summer pursuit of Malmo FF striker Pawel Cibicki, who is also being tailed by Napoli, Celta De Vigo and Real Betis.
Pawel Cibicki is a product of the fabled Malmo FF academy setup and has been able to break into the senior squad, impressing everyone with his skills in the Allsvenskan – the Swedish Premier League. In just 7 appearances this season, the 23-year-old has 4 goals and an assist to show for his efforts.
The player is already an international for the Swedish Under-21 side and is suggested to be knocking on the doors of the senior national team.
The report states that Cibicki has impressed the Manchester United scouts who were in attendance during some of the games and the club is set to monitor the player in the upcoming Under-21 European Championship in Poland this summer.
#mufc want Malmo & Sweden Under-21 star Pawel Cibicki. Europa League final opponents Ajax will battle United for his signature. [Mirror] pic.twitter.com/dW6pb7d5tr
— RedReveal (@RedReveal) May 14, 2017
Manchester United do need a central striker, especially with Zlatan Ibrahimovic unlikely to renew with them till he is fully recovered from his ACL injury. While the Red Devils have been linked with the likes of Alvaro Morata and Antoine Griezmann, Cibicki would be a much realistic option.
As per the report, the 23-year-old is likely to be available for a fee around £7.5 million – astronomically lower than the amounts quoted in the pursuit of the aforementioned duo. However, the Red Devils do face competition from various European outfits, with the fiercest one coming in the form of their Europa League rival, Ajax.
Bertrand Traore has done a commendable job at Ajax but is set to return to Chelsea at the end of the loan spell. And while Ajax are likely to attempt to sign the player in the summer, Chelsea are likely to ask for a considerable fee to part with the player.
In such a case, Cibicki could present to be a viable target for Ajax, who sent John Steen Olsen to monitor the player, the man who spotted Zlatan Ibrahimovic for Ajax.
Manchester United have done big-money signings only ever since the appointment of Ed Woodward as the technical director, who is also in-charge of overseeing the transfers at the club. However, the club has always been considered one which has often done bargain deals – deals which have brought them much success in the past.
One of the main highlights of the recent times has been Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez, who was brought to Old Trafford by Sir Alex Ferguson in a low-money move and the player aided the Red Devils in their title triumph in his debut season itself.
While Mourinho has been linked with an attempt to bring Chicharito back, Cibicki would be a reasonable target in case Little Pea does not intend to return to Old Trafford.
It will be intriguing to see how the summer transfer window develops, with Manchester United linked with a host of potential arrivals. But, Cibicki could turn out to be a real bargain, if the deal does happen.
