Erik ten Hag is looking to strike back against Liverpool in the transfer market after missing out on Brighton star Alexis Mac Allister.
The World Cup winner passed a medical at Anfield on Thursday, and will sign for a fee of around £45 million. The development was a blow to Ten Hag's plans, who like Jurgen Klopp had long been pursuing the midfielder.
And not the two rival clubs are set to go head-to-head for another star. Fiorentina's Sofyan Amrabat rose to prominence at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar as he helped Morocco become the first African side to reach the final four, and has also starred for his club side in Serie A this season.
Back in January, the Daily Mail reported that Klopp had attended a meeting with Amrabat's representatives with a view to a transfer, but failed to get a deal done. And Ten Hag, who worked with the player at Utrecht when he was coming through the ranks, is now keen to be reunited with him at Old Trafford.
Amrabat has already stated his preference is a move to the Premier League, and now his brother, Nordin, has handed United a boost: "Ten Hag is now looking for a striker, he wants that first. From there he will see what is possible," he told ESPN. "But I know that Ten Hag is charmed by my brother, he broke through under him and they have a good relationship, so who knows."
And ex-Watford star Nordin added that his sibling is only keen on moving to a club at the top end of the scale of European football: "He wants to go to the top, you are not going to trade Italy for the middle bracket of the Premier League.
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"At Barcelona, he is high on the list but you know Barca’s financial situation. Of course you never know, it will be a strong competition when you see which names are going. But my brother now has the intention to play in the top, preferably in Spain or England, I think."
Despite Casemiro being among his star performers in the last 12 months, Ten Hag is keen to boost his midfield options with the player now 31. And United are also closing in on a deal for Chelsea star Mason Mount, and have maintained their interest in West Ham captain Declan Rice.
But the Dutch boss is also yet to learn what exact funds he will have at his disposal. Despite the lucrative boost of Champions League qualification, the ambiguity over whether Sheikh Jassim or Sim Ratcliffe will be the next owner of the club continues to rumble on.
