Chelsea Dealt Blow As Man Utd Close-In On Deal For £84m Serie A Hitman

Managers are now making plans for the summer transfer window so we’ll bring you all the latest news and gossip from around the globe. Today, Man Utd close-in on Andrea Belotti…

Manchester United are closing-in on a deal to sign Torino’s £84m-rated striker Andrea Belotti as Jose Mourinho looks to replace Zlatan Ibrahimovic this summer, according to the Mirror.

Mourinho was already expected to be in the market for one top class striker and had hoped the new recruit would play alongside Ibrahimovic at Old Trafford next season if they could tie him down to a new deal.

However, the Swedish superstars potentially career-ending knee ligament injury has meant the United boss needs two forwards so needs to step-up his efforts to strengthen his attack ahead of next season.

Several names have been linked with a move to United in recent weeks but the Mirror claim that Mourinho has now identified Belotti as a prime target and has intensified his interest in the striker.

The newspaper says that Mourinho held talks with super-agent Jorge Mendes after United’s Europa League win over Anderlecht last week where he discussed his summer transfer business.

Belotti has emerged as one of the hottest strikers in Europe after scoring 27 goals in his 33 appearances for Torino this season so it’s no surprise he won’t come cheap if he does leave Italy this summer.

The Serie A outfit are determined to squeeze every penny out of Belotti’s sale and the Mirror claim United will have to trigger his £84m release clause if they are to force the Italians in to a deal.

United have shown on numerous occasions that they aren’t afraid of spending huge sums to land their targets so they may not be put-off by Belotti’s asking price.

At 23, the Italian international has his whole career ahead of him so his value should continue to rise if he transfers the sort of form he’s been showing in Serie A to the Premier League.

However, United aren’t the only club who’ve been showing a keen interest in the striker as the Express reported earlier this month that Chelsea had tabled a £51m plus £33m in add ons offer for Belotti’s signature.

The offer was rejected as Torino insisted the Blues pay the full £84m up front but such an opening bid shows that Antonio Conte is also serious about trying to lure the striker to England.

The Chelsea boss is expected to bring in at least one forward this summer amid rumours Diego Costa could move to China and Belotti is seemingly also on the Italian coaches radar.

READ MORE –> Chelsea transfer news | Man Utd transfer news

It will be an interesting battle between United and Chelsea if the two clubs go head-to-head over Belotti’s signature but whoever wins the race will get their hands on a superb striker so let’s hope we see him plying his trade in the Premier League next season.