Mateus Mane: Man United learn asking price for Wolves starlet | OneFootball

Manchester United’s pursuit of Wolverhampton Wanderers starlet Mateus Mane is ramping up as the summer transfer window fast approaches, according to a new report.

Reinforcements Out Wide

The Red Devils are targeting a new left-winger to add more variety to Michael Carrick’s forward line ahead of a return to the Champions League next season.

While Amad and Bryan Mbeumo are both natural options on the right wing, neither Matheus Cunha nor Patrick Dorgu is an ‘out-and-out’ wide player, with both doing their best work in other areas of the pitch.

United’s primary targets on this flank are RB Leipzig sensation Yan Diomande and Aston Villa’s magician Morgan Rogers, with initial talks held to gauge the viability of deals. However, either player is expected to cost up to £100 million and competition will prove fierce if their respective clubs put them up for sale.

Furthermore, United’s priority this summer is a revamp in midfield, with around £150 million allocated to the capture of three new options – which leaves little wiggle room to fund a big-money new winger. This has led the recruitment department to identify cheaper alternatives, such as Mane, to help balance the budget and bolster all areas of the pitch.

Breakout Season

United have been strongly linked with a move for the 18-year-old winger, who has enjoyed a breakout season at Molineux, despite his side’s struggles.

While Wolves were officially relegated in April, they had been consigned to that unfortunate fate for much of the season. There is a feeling Rob Edwards was appointed midseason as much for his reputation in the Championship as for any hopes he could secure Premier League survival.

But Mane has been a shining light in an otherwise dark season in the Black Country, emerging as one of Edwards’ most effective players despite his tender age, with the English coach hailing him as “fearless”.

Shaun Connolly (Theatre of Red) confirms Mane is “one of a collection of teenagers shortlisted” by United this summer, with the Barreiro native – he holds dual citizenship in England and Portugal – having been scouted extensively throughout the campaign.

Connolly describes the youngster as representing “so much of the modern footballer” due to his comfort in possession and ball-carrying skills.

“He is fearless against senior opponents and determined to showcase flamboyance in the final third. In the simplest of explanations, this teen is comfortable in multiple attacking positions, offering a dynamic threat, capable of impressive ball-carrying, while remaining direct in every transition…he possesses a very real press-resistant trait, and one can only imagine that this characteristic will grow with age and physical development.”

Carrick is understood to want a “fluid forward line where, at a moment’s notice, the aim is to reveal positional switches to interrupt an opposition’s defensive shape.” Mane, a Swiss Army Knife of an attacker, offers this incisive flexibility in abundance.

Crucially, well-placed sources indicate a “fee of around £25 to £30 million” should be sufficient to convince Wolves to sell their spell-binding starlet this summer – a price United’s war chest should be able to match.

Final Thoughts

Mane ticks a lot of boxes for INEOS, such as being younger, affordable, versatile and Premier League proven. He is said to be a signing who would “complement the existing squad” and possesses “staggering potential.”

If a deal can be struck as low as £25 million to provide an alternative to Cunha, enabling Dorgu to drop back to support Luke Shaw at left-back, it would be an astute piece of business to help fund more high-profile purchases elsewhere on the pitch.

Featured image Matt McNulty via Getty Images

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