Why Signing Mauro Icardi Would Lift Manchester United’s Chances Of Lifting The Premier League Title Next Season
Manchester United have been linked with a move for Inter Milan sensation Mauro Icardi in the past and according to latest reports, the English powerhouse side are willing to pay a hefty £97m to trigger his release clause.
Icardi has been one of the most sensational strikers across Europe and it comes as no surprise that he has attracted attention from some of the biggest clubs across the continent. However, the Red Devils are now keen on stealing a march towards acquiring his signature.
Icardi is expected to leave Inter this summer if they fail to nail a Champions League spot and as things stand, they are currently in 5th place in the Serie A standings. Regardless of how that turns out, the player could be tempted to move if United make a tantalising offer.
One might argue that chasing Icardi could be futile given the fact that Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain are also interested in him. However, the way United snatched Alexis Sanchez out of Manchester City’s clutches is more than enough to prove that they can land Icardi as well.
As far as Icardi’s inclusion in the squad is concerned, there is absolutely no doubt that he could significantly boost their chances of progressing forward in their quest for posing a serious title challenge next season. At 25 years of age, Icardi is touted as one of the best strikers in the game, having bagged 18 goals in 22 Serie A appearances this season. His finishing skills are top-notch and he is well-known for his incisiveness in the final third.
Hence, a player like him could most definitely add immense value to United – a club that have struggled to score goals on several occasions this term. More often than not, Mourinho’s men have lacked attacking intent and to have a proven goalscorer like Icardi in the ranks will certainly help in that regard.
Romelu Lukaku, Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial have all been wildly inconsistent throughout the campaign so far, thus providing all the more reason for United to make a move for Icardi.
That said, Mourinho will have to figure out something about Martial and Rashford. The Portuguese manager can definitely rotate between Lukaku and Icardi if the deal goes through, or he could also utilise them together in a two-striker formation. However, Sanchez’s inclusion has already reduced Martial and Rashford’s time on the field and if they sign Icardi as well, United might have to let one of them leave this summer.