Manchester United face Liverpool threat for Nicolo Zaniolo

According to Football Italia (h/t The Sun), Manchester United are set to face competition from arch-rivals Liverpool in the race for Roma star Nicolo Zaniolo.

The 20-year-old has taken his opportunity since moving to the Stadio Olimpico in 2018. He has gone on to make 60 appearances while scoring 12 goals and assisting five more. Zaniolo is the youngest Italian to score a brace in the UEFA Champions League. (h/t BBC)

Although he primarily stars as an attacking midfielder, he is capable of playing in a variety of positions. This versatility is sure to give his manager a number of options.

The report goes on to say that the Italian giants are in debt. This could force them to sell a number of their stars in the upcoming window. Zaniolo was valued at £71million by Roma. Following the coronavirus crisis, his value has fallen, inviting interest from arch-rivals Liverpool.

A number of Italian sources (h/t The Sun) state that the Merseysiders are keeping tabs on the player’s situation in the Italian capital. Zaniolo is also drawing interest from Tottenham Hotspur and Paris Saint-Germain.

With Roma in danger of missing out on the Champions League next season, their financial troubles are only likely to worsen.

The 20-year-old has not featured in a game since injuring his anterior cruciate ligament in January. It remains to be seen if there are any lingering after-effects due to the setback.

Zaniolo is one of the best Italian youngsters in the game today. At just 20, he already has the experience of playing both in Serie A and the UEFA Champions League.

Obtaining him for a bargain is not something United should miss on. He has the ability to become a mainstay in the squad for the next decade. We should take full advantage of this opportunity.

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Liverpool have in recent years built a young, hungry squad. Adding Zaniolo will give them another trump card up their sleeve.

United should look to beat the Merseysiders to the signing of this Italian gem. Doing so will make it all the more sweeter.