Manchester United are reportedly in the hunt for highly-rated Barcelona prodigy Ansu Fati, who is also on the radar of Premier League club Newcastle.
According to Daily Record, Manchester United and Newcastle have both made an approach to Ansu Fati with hopes of landing the Barcelona prodigy. The youngster also has offers on the table from Bundesliga runners-up Borussia Dortmund and Ligue 1 clubs AS Monaco and OGC Nice.
The report states that any of the aforementioned clubs that end up agreeing a deal with Ansu Fati will only have to pay a compensation fee to Barcelona for the youngster, as per FIFA rules for free transfers of players under the age of 23.
Ansu Fati has become a known name within La Masia. Eligible for both Spain and Guinea-Bissau, the 16-year-old lit up the UEFA Youth League in the 2018-19 season, with 4 goals and 3 assists to his name in 9 appearances for the club, with Barcelona losing in the semi-finals on penalties to Chelsea.
Naturally, Barcelona will have high hopes from the attacker, who prefers the left wing but can also play as a centre-forward. But, his current deal is set to expire in June, with the player free to negotiate with other clubs. This has piqued the interest of several clubs including Manchester United.
EXCLUSIVE: Manchester United and Newcastle in transfer battle for Barcelona wonderkid Ansu Fati | @DuncanCastles #MUFC https://t.co/f3ZFoOoUq5 pic.twitter.com/0sR7KAE2uQ
— Daily Record Sport (@Record_Sport) June 13, 2019
There have been attempts from Barcelona to get Fati to commit his future to the club. But, the report states that the player and his father have received an offer of a new three-year deal from the club but are not too keen, with Fati’s camp left unimpressed by the financial side of the deal while also having no clear pathway into the first-team.
As per the report, Fati wants Barcelona to promote him to the B team while the club is keen for the 16-year-old to spend another season with the Under-19s. This has boosted his chances of leaving, which is where Manchester United come in. The Red Devils have been on the lookout for prodigious additions to their youth squads.
But, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s appointment has brought about a welcome change in the first-team transfer policy as well, with Manchester United now keen to bring in players with long-term potential rather than going for mega stars or high profile signings.
While United are unlikely to introduce Fati in the first-team setup straight away, the Red Devils can fulfil the player’s wish of playing in the B team, which would have a similar predicament to Barcelona’s B team, with United set to enter the EFL Trophy with an Under-21 side while also continuing to take part in the Under-23 Premier League.
Ansu Fati and his father have applied for a European passport for the 16-year-old, who is likely to make up his mind once the documents arrive, which will make it easier for him to move to England or any other big European footballing nation.
