Fiorentina midfielder Sofyan Amrabat is reportedly snubbing Fulham as he continues to push for a move to Manchester United.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Fiorentina midfielder Sofyan Amrabat is holding out for a deadline-day move to Old Trafford despite conflicting reports that Fulham have submitted a €30 million bid to Fiorentina on Thursday evening.
Amrabat has been linked with a move to Manchester United for several weeks, and the player is keen on the switch. Erik ten Hag is looking to bring in a midfielder late in the transfer window, and the Moroccan international is understood to be a top target.
The midfielder agreed personal terms with the Old Trafford side months ago and is eager to reunite with ten Hag after they worked together in the Netherlands. At the same time, after turning down a loan transfer to Barcelona in January, La Viola informed him that if any suitor met their €30 million asking price, he would be sold this summer.
However, the player and his parent club were left in limbo for weeks as they awaited an official offer from Manchester United. The Red Devils have explored the possibility of signing him on loan in recent days. United are limited with their transfer budget due to Financial Fair Play regulations and their offer of a €2 million loan deal with a break clause was rejected by Fiorentina this week and deemed an insult.
Manchester United are set to negotiate again with Fiorentina for Amrabat deal. Fulham are not involved in the race at this stage. 🚨🔴🇲🇦 #MUFC
Amrabat wants to join Manchester Utd since the end of June and he won’t open to any other club until United are in the mix. pic.twitter.com/6gRdAYO42c
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 31, 2023
In a surprising twist to the summer transfer saga, reports earlier yesterday suggested Marco Silva’s Fulham had blown Manchester United out of the water by submitting a €30 million bid to Fiorentina in recent hours.
The London outfit are casting their net far and wide to ensure they are not caught short if midfield destroyer Joao Palhinha leaves for Germany amid strong interest from Bayern Munich. Marco Silva’s side are also holding talks with Tottenham regarding Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, while AS Monaco’s Youssouf Fofana is also on their radar. If they manage to secure Amrabat’s services, it would be a coup for the club.
That said, well-known journalist Fabrizio Romano has refuted those reports, claiming that the Cottagers “are not involved in the race” just yet, and Amrabat desires to join Manchester United and has been for some time. The 26-year-old has been absent from Fiorentina’s training sessions, signalling his desperation for a move to Old Trafford.
Romano expects the Red Devils to come back with a fresh proposal in an attempt to get the deal over the line on deadline day. Meanwhile, reports in Italy suggest the news of Fulham offering €30 million was leaked by Fiorentina, who wanted to force United’s hand, pushing them to either match or better the offer, sending an indication that there are suitors ready to pay the right price if they do not act swiftly.
Amrabat is under contract at Fiorentina until next summer. But the Italian outfit hold an option to extend to 2025. With that in mind, they are more than happy to hang on to him rather than accept a lowball bid.
