Ornstein: Man Utd are ‘working on a deal’ for Liverpool-linked star but will have to settle for a loan
The Athletic journalist David Ornstein has revealed that Manchester United are now working towards a loan deal for Fiorentina midfielder Sofyan Amrabat.
The Red Devils have been linked with the Morocco international – who starred at the World Cup in Qatar over the winter – but they have yet to make their interest concrete in the form of an official bid.
However, Ornstein now claims that Man Utd are ‘working on a deal’ to sign Liverpool-linked Amrabat after others had reported that Erik ten Hag had made the Fiorentina star a ‘promise’.
The Red Devils ‘are now attempting to agree a loan deal for the Morocco international’ with ‘a permanent deal unlikely because of United’s financial fair play situation’.
Amrabat is, of course, ‘keen on a move to Old Trafford’ and Man Utd are concentrating on getting a deal for the 27-year-old done as there has ‘so far been no progress’ towards a deal for Bayern Munich midfielder Ryan Gravenberch.
They have now ‘honed their focus on Amrabat’ with just a couple of days remaining in the transfer window and Italian publication Nazione insisting Fiorentina will accept a loan with an obligation to buy deal.
READ MORE: Man Utd stuck in ‘infinite loop’ and still buying ‘you’ll do’ players under Erik ten Hag
Ornstein’s fellow Athletic journalist Carl Anka has explained why Amrabat would be the obvious choice for Man Utd before the end of the transfer window.
Anka wrote: “Amrabat would be an upgrade on Fred, an energetic ball-winner who can keep things ticking.
“The Moroccan is best as a box-to-box player but can serve as the deepest defensive midfielder when needed. There are flaws — his tackles often give away fouls and lead to yellow cards and his ambition to chase after players in possession can lead to tricky situations where he gets pulled out of position, but he fits what Ten Hag wants.
“The 27-year-old is the leading candidate, partially because he has worked with Ten Hag at Utrecht. He was used on the right of a midfield diamond for much of their final season together.
“The United manager has a preference for players he has worked with and Amrabat ticks all the major boxes of what United need.”
Former Man Utd defender Paul Parker said recently that the Red Devils should prioritise Amrabat over Everton midfielder Amadou Onana, who has also been linked to Old Trafford.
Parker told InsideSport.in: “I’d go with Amrabat over Onana. Just because of the way he plays, he’s clever. He would have got that midfield ticking a lot better. He would have brought people into it. He leads by example.
“I saw him during the World Cup, saw Morocco live on two occasions and I watched him and he reminds me of an old-fashioned 1980s English midfield player. The term we used to use to describe was box-to-box. He never stopped, he was quality, calm and collected in both areas of the park.”
