Manchester United are hopeful of securing both Real Madrid’s Alvaro Morata and Torino’s Andrea Belotti after agreeing terms with the Spanish striker and submitting a bid of around £70m for the latter, according to reports. Several reports have now claimed that a £60m deal for Morata – whose agent recently stated he is seeking starting XI opportunities elsewhere – has been agreed, with personal details the only barrier left before the deal is completed.
Manchester United are reportedly closing in on the signings of both Alvaro Morata and Andrea Belotti for a combined £130million to kick off their summer transfer window. The Red Devils were widely tipped to sign at least one big-name striker this summer but now look like doing a deal for two in what could be the first part of another Jose Mourinho spending spree. United spent heavily last summer on the likes of Paul Pogba, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Eric Bailly, and are planning another major overhaul in a number of key areas.
Meanwhile, talks have been ongoing with Torino over bringing Belotti, who claimed 28 goals last season, with Jose Mourinho set to table the £70m offer demanded by the Series A side for the 23-year-old’s signature. And according to the Independent, Man United will complete a deal for the pair before pre-season starts in early July. Mourinho has shirked the more diminutive, skilful Antoine Griezmann in favour of lumping for the more physical and direct pair of Morata and Belotti, two 23-year-olds – albeit with a price tag that dramatically exceeds their experience – currently in form and, more importantly, built for the Premier League.
This is a turn that many didn’t expect the Portuguese to take, but it makes perfect sense: Mourinho needs goals immediately, and in Morata and Belotti he has two strikers approaching the zenith of their powers and looking to impose themselves on a more regular basis. According to the Independent, United are edging closer to signing Morata and Belotti for £60million and £70million respectively, while Victor Lindelof, Ivan Perisic and Fabinho could also be on their way.
