Manchester United to Sign Mario Mandzukic! Premier League Club to Start Negotiations with Juventus for 33-Year-Old Striker, Say Reports

Manchester United are keen on signing Mario Mandzukic from Juventus in the upcoming 2019/20 winter transfer window after being left without any striker just two months into the new football season. New United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is reportedly considering for a move for the 33-year-old Croatian to solve the striking woes at Old Trafford. United were left with no one but a 17-year-old Mason Greenwood after Marcus Rashford limped off with a groin injury during the 0-2 defeat at West Ham. Mandzukic was linked to the Red Devils in the summer but his excess wage demand put the transfer off. But United are interested in reassessing the transfer, come January.

United, who have scored just eight times in the English Premier League (EPL) this season and has the lowest number of goals among the big six, had sold Romelu Lukaku to Inter Milan in the summer with Solsjkaer pinning his hopes on the young trio of Anthony Martial, Rashford and Greenwood. But two of the three (Martial and Rashford) are already out for a lengthy period, while Greenwood is a doubt for United’s League Cup clash against Rochdale, leaving the 20-time Premier League champions without a recognised striker. Paul Pogba Injury Latest News Update: Manchester United Midfielder to Make a Return Against Third-Tier Rochdale In League Cup.

United are interested in making a ‘swoop’ for the 2018 World Cup finalist in January with their forward line depleted with concurrent injuries, which left them bare in the attacking line, especially after the club failed to bring in replacements for Lukaku and Sanchez, both of whom were shipped out to Inter in August. The pursuit of Mandzukic has gained more importance especially after Solskjaer was publicly criticized by pundits for not replacing Lukaku. “17 –year-olds don’t win you trophies,” said United great Gray Neville.

According to a report from The Sun, United are planning to enquire about Mandzukic’s availability when the January transfer window opens. Mandzukic, who played in the 2018 World Cup final with Croatia, is yet to make an appearance for Juventus this season and is said to be unwanted by new Juve boss Maurizio Sarri. The Serie A giants are also keen to offload the veteran striker, who signed for them in 2015, and were interested in involving him a swap-deal with Paulo Dybala for Lukaku. But the deal fell off.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 25, 2019 02:19 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).