Ten Hag to axe Man Utd duo before ‘proceeding’ with €30m raid on Serie A club for Liverpool target

Lewis Oldham
Man Utd midfielder Donny van de Beek receives instructions from Erik ten Hag
Erik ten Hag and Donny van de Beek.

Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Man Utd are planning to let two players leave before they “proceed” with their pursuit of Sofyan Amrabat.

Man Utd are hoping to sign a striker before next season following the arrivals of Mason Mount and Andre Onana.

Atalanta forward Rasmus Hojlund has emerged as their top target and he has already reportedly agreed personal terms with Man Utd ahead of his move to the Premier League giants.

Having already signed Mount, Man Utd are also interested in Amrabat, who was one of the standout players at last year’s World Cup.

The Morocco and Fiorentina midfielder is also being linked with Liverpool and his agent – Mahmoud El Boustati – has confirmed that “quite a few clubs are interested” in him.

“Quite a few clubs are interested in Sofyan,” he told Voetbal Primeur. “It is now a matter of making the right choice. He is still just a Fiorentina player and he reported to Fiorentina on Monday.

“If something interesting comes up, Sofyan is open to the step, Fiorentina too. There are two, three clubs that he is open to.

“There is interest from Saudi Arabia. But there is no concrete offer or concrete interest.”

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Romano is now reporting that Man Utd will “focus on a new midfielder once they have signed a new striker and deal for departing midfielders are completed. Fred and Donny van de Beek are mentioned as the players who could move on.

“For Amrabat, the idea is to wait for Man Utd to sign a new striker and then to proceed,” Romano claimed via his YouTube channel.

“[This will be] after the outgoings. Fred will leave Man Utd this summer. We’re just waiting to see where. And then let’s see what happens with Donny van de Beek.

“Once they complete the outgoings, Man Utd will focus on a new midfielder and Amrabat for sure is one of the big names on the list.”

Fulham are interested in Fred, while Van de Beek is being linked with a return to Dutch giants Ajax.

Van de Beek has made his comeback from injury during pre-season and he scored in a friendly against Ligue 1 outfit Lyon. After this game, he admitted that “there’s still a chance” that he leaves this summer.

“This was a big moment for me,” Van de Beek admitted. “There’s still a chance I move, but we’re keeping it open.

“It was great, my first game after six months. I don’t have to tell you that the injury is such a mentally difficult period. To be back on the pitch was great and of course, it is nice if you score a goal as well.”

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