Manchester United are reportedly readying an opening offer of €30 million for Rennes wonderkid Eduardo Camavinga, who is also a transfer target for Chelsea.
According to a report from French publication Le Parisien, Manchester United are preparing to take the first step in their pursuit of Rennes midfielder Eduardo Camavinga this summer by launching a bid of €30 million for the teenager.
Camavinga came through the ranks at Rennes and burst onto the first-team scenes towards the end of the 2018/19 season. The following campaign saw him enjoy a proper breakthrough as he nailed down his spot in the starting XI while helping his team to a third-place finish in Ligue 1, with his performances alerting a bevy of top clubs across Europe.
Having decided to stay out in France, Camavinga couldn’t hit the heights of the 2019/20 term last time out but still enjoyed a steady season. Now that he is in the final year of his contract with Rennes, many teams, including Manchester United, are lining up a summer swoop with the 18-year-old informing his club of his wishes not to sign an extension.
Manchester United are in the market for reinforcements in midfield and justifiably so, considering that the Red Devils need a long-term replacement for the ageing Nemanja Matic. With neither Scott McTominay nor Fred proper defensive midfielders, someone like Camavinga, who has proven to be a top No.6 in the Ligue 1 over the past couple of seasons, can be a great acquisition for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer & co. in the short and the long run.
Apart from Manchester United, Chelsea are interested in signing Camavinga, the report adds. The Blues are loaded with options in the middle of the park, although the loan exit of Billy Gilmour does open up a spot in the centre. And with N’Golo Kante not getting any younger and having battled with injuries over the past term, a move for Camavinga, who can be the long-term heir to his compatriot, would make sense for Thomas Tuchel.
To that end, Chelsea are said to be in direct contact with the 18-year-old’s agent, Jonathan Barnett, along with other top clubs, including Real Madrid as well as Paris Saint-Germain. However, none of the three teams have made any offer as things stand, where Manchester United could have the edge over their rivals in the race for the Frenchman.
Indeed, it has been claimed that Manchester United have held positive discussions with Rennes over a possible move for Camavinga. And, the Red Devils are now preparing to launch an opening offer worth €30 million for the teenager in the coming days as they look to capitalise on his contract situation.
Rennes, though, want a higher transfer fee for their crown jewel, although they are also wary of the fact that they could end up losing him for nothing a year later. That is something they cannot afford to do in the current financial climate. So, it remains to be seen if they are willing to accept Manchester United’s opening bid or negotiate for a bigger offer.
