Chelsea and Manchester United will reportedly send scouts to watch 21-year-old Argentine striker Santiago Castro in the UEFA Europa League clash with Aston Villa.
According to a report by Italian outlet Il Resto del Carlino, Chelsea and Manchester United are interested in Bologna striker Santiago Castro. The two Premier League heavyweights are keen on reinforcing their offensive units by signing a centre-forward in the summer transfer window.
Chelsea and Manchester United have dispatched scouts to watch the South American attacker in the upcoming UEFA Europa League clash between Bologna and Aston Villa at Villa Park this weekend, with the youngster key to the Serie A club’s hopes of securing a spot in the semi-finals.
Who is Santiago Castro?
Santiago Castro has established himself as one of the best young prospects in Serie A since joining Bologna from Velez Sarsfield in January 2024. Born in Buenos Aires, the 21-year-old spent his formative years in Argentina and graduated from the youth division at Velez Sarsfield before moving to Europe over two years ago.
Castro has not been as prolific as he would have liked this season, but he still has a decent tally of 11 goals and four assists in 44 appearances across all competitions. Meanwhile, the Argentine striker’s stock has skyrocketed, with Chelsea and Manchester United among the prospective suitors vying for his signature.
Premier League move on the horizon?
Santiago Castro has been on Chelsea’s radar for a long time. The continued interest is somewhat surprising, as the West London club signed Joao Pedro and Liam Delap last summer. While the latter has failed to make his mark in his debut season, Emmanuel Emegha will complete his long-awaited move to Chelsea this summer. So, it is unclear how Castro will fit into the scheme of things at Stamford Bridge.
As for Manchester United, Joshua Zirkzee faces an uncertain future at Old Trafford after struggling for regular game time this season. Recent reports have claimed that the Red Devils are ready to cash in on the Dutch attacker, which will pave the way for Castro to join Benjamin Sesko in the offensive unit.
With Chelsea and Manchester United planning a scouting trip to watch Castro, the 21-year-old Argentine striker’s performance may hold the key to convincing them to launch a summer bid.
