Pranav Nair
Manchester United and Atletico Madrid to battle it out for Andre Silva
According to Sky Sports Germany, Manchester United are set to battle it out with Atletico Madrid for Eintracht Frankfurt striker Andre Silva.
The 25-year-old came through the ranks at Porto before joining AC Milan in 2017. His time at the San Siro was less than impressive and he was promptly shipped out on loan, first to Sevilla and then Frankfurt.
It was at the latter that he rediscovered his best form in 2019/20. The German eventually made the deal permanent in 2020, a decision they have not had cause to regret.
Gomes is enjoying a spectacular season and has scored 18 goals and made three assists in just 20 Bundesliga appearances so far. His goals have propelled Frankfurt to third in the standings, only behind Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig.
Interestingly, Silva has outscored a high-profile United target, Erling Haaland, who has scored three fewer goals for Borussia Dortmund. The 25-year-old is on United’s radar and the club have scouted him intensely.
The 25-year-old hasn’t just proven himself capable on the pitch but is also a cheaper alternative to the likes of Haaland. Frankfurt would demand at least €30million for the player, a reasonable fee considering his consistency.
Silva’s contract runs until 2023 and for now, the Germans will have some leeway in negotiations. United will, however, have to contend with competition from Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid.
No other player in Europe’s top five leagues has outscored the Portuguese star in 2021. A pretty impressive achievement given he competes against the likes of Haaland and Robert Lewandowski.
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While it is well known that United need a defender, they could also do with a striker. Anthony Martial has failed to step up this season while Edinson Cavani is at best a short-term option.
At 25, Silva is just hitting his prime and is a viable option for years to come.
