Manchester United and Chelsea have reportedly been offered the chance to sign former Barcelona and Middlesbrough attacker Martin Braithwaite in a last-gasp winter transfer.
According to HITC, Chelsea and Manchester United have been informed that ex-Barcelona forward Braithwaite is “available” this month and that he could be available for a bargain fee of just £5 million thanks to a buy-out clause inserted into his existing contract.
Braithwaite, infamously, spent two years playing for Barcelona between 2020 and 2022 before his contract was terminated. He signed for the Catalan’s local rivals Espanyol as a free agent in the summer of 2022. They were ultimately relegated, despite the 32-year-old boasting a very respectable tally of 10 La Liga goals.
The Danish striker came close to leaving Espanyol in the summer and even considered early retirement, but ultimately decided to stay. And he has made a sensational start to the season in the Segunda Division, scoring 11 goals in 21 Spanish second-tier appearances.
Braithwaite’s displays have caught the attention of several English clubs, with West Ham and Wolves said to be aware of his availability. However, the thought of joining a ‘Big Six’ club is likely to be appealing to the Danish international, with his agents working overnight to make it a possibility.
As such, Manchester United and Chelsea are both in the market for an experienced striker before deadline day to serve as a stop-gap fix to their striker problems until the end of the season, and the chance to strike a bargain deal for a proven star could capture their attention.
The Red Devils’ summer recruit Rasmus Hojlund bagged a fine goal against Tottenham Hotspur in their most recent Premier League game, but he has generally struggled as a lone front-man, with no one else in the attacking line to shoulder goal-scoring responsibility.
Anthony Martial is out until April with a groin injury, so Ten Hag could benefit from a late move for a striker, especially considering they love a cheap deal for a back-up striker in January, with Odion Ighalo and Wout Weghorst being prime examples from the past.
As for Chelsea, Nicolas Jackson has not been consistent enough this season, while Christopher Nkunku’s injury problems have persisted throughout the campaign. The Blues are also considering selling Armando Broja amid interest from Fulham, West Ham, and Wolves.
As such, the Blues’ could sign Karim Benzema on a six-month loan to replace Broja should he leave. If Chelsea miss out on Benzema, they might yet consider making a desperate last-minute move for Braithwaite.
