BEVERLY HILLS, March 26, (THEWILL) – According to reports THEWILL is following in the Spanish media, English Premier League club Manchester United have made a £68.5million offer to La Liga leading side Atletico Madrid for their midfield star Marcos Llorente, as the second-placed EPL club looks towards bolstering their midfield to pose a stiffer challenge next season.
The Spanish international has become a regular starter in the leading club over the past 12 months with a strong sense of leadership and good holdup play that stops opposition attacks and advances the team towards the opponents goal. Added to that responsibility, Llorente has scored 10 goals and recorded nine assists in the present campaign.
The play for Red Devil’s manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, is to add to his midfield options this summer and make United turn out more consistent results that will see them sincerely compete as authentic Premier League title contenders next season.
According to Spanish outlet AS, which focuses on sports reports and delivers in different languages including Spanish, English and Arabic, United have submitted a bid to Diego Simeone’s side for the versatile Spain international with an attempt to lure him to Old Trafford.
The 26-year-old’s contact with Los Rojiblancos will expire in the summer of 2024 but the report asserts that Old Trafford chiefs have offered to double Llorente’s wages, which currently stand at about £90,000-per-week, if he makes the move to Manchester from Madrid.
It will be in Simeone’s favour, who has relied on Llorente to keep his midfield sharp, in the more advanced midfield role he plays behind the central striker, that the midfielder is not very keen on the move and is happy to stay at the Wanda Metropolitano for the foreseeable future.
Atletico harbour no plans to let Llorente go. However, as these moves often play out, when there is an enormous figure involved, it could make clubs recalibrate their intentions whether to cash in on their player immediately or keep the player for the time being.
The current financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Spanish football could make Atletico seriously consider the proposal from Old Trafford. And, this is not United’s first interest in the midfielder. In the January transfer window of the 2019/2020 season, the Red Devils registered their initial interest, but were not successful due to the player’s reluctance to leave Spain.
Llorente, who started his professional career at rivals Real Madrid notched up 39 appearances in all competitions for the current La Liga champions before switching to city rivals Atletico, two summers ago.
Apart from Llorente, the Red Devils also have their eyes out in search of a centre forward to spearhead their frontline. High on their priority list is Borussia Dortmund goal machine and 2020 golden boy Erling Haaland. Solskjaer, who is from Norway, appears to be employing his national links to the Norwegian striker to get their man by triggering the £65m release clause in his contract.
The United manager, in line for a juicier contract himself, is also keen on strengthening his defensive options, with Ibrahima Konate, Pau Torres and Raphael Varane all being linked with moves to Manchester United.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
