Roland Cutinho
Manchester United attempting to trump Barcelona to the signing of Vitor Roque
According to Mundo Deportivo (h/t the Sun Live), Manchester United have made an effort to disrupt Barcelona in their pursuit of Athletico Paranaense forward Vitor Roque.
While the Spanish giants are considered the frontrunners to sign the 18-year-old, reports suggest that “powerful clubs,” including Man United, have contacted the player to investigate the possibility of swaying his decision.
The Red Devils are among the clubs attempting to convince Roque to reconsider his destination. The Brazilian is edging closer to a transfer to Camp Nou.
However, due to the financial challenges faced by Barcelona, there are doubts about their ability to complete the official registration of the player.
The club has reportedly reached a “pre-agreement” for Roque to join them in Spain in a deal worth €35 million plus an additional €10 million in bonuses. They just have to sign the final documents.
However, in order to accommodate the transfer, the La Liga champions will first need to sell some players to meet financial requirements. If the Blaugrana encounter difficulties in registering the Brazilian, they may consider allowing him to remain on loan with Athletico Paranaense.
The uncertainty surrounding the 18-year-old’s move has piqued the interest of Man United, who are actively seeking a striker during the current summer transfer window.
United sees the complications surrounding Roque’s transfer as an opportunity to pursue the talented forward. Roque, who has drawn comparisons to legendary goal scorer Ronaldo Nazario and earned the nickname “the next Ronaldo,” has made a significant impact with seven goals and two assists in 12 appearances in the Brasileiro Série A.
Hailing from Timoteo, Brazil, Roque has experienced a rapid ascent and is now regarded as one of the most promising talents emerging from South America.
With a big-money transfer to a European club on the horizon, the talented youngster appears poised for a move to build his career.
United are in need of a future-oriented striker who can consistently find the back of the net. Anthony Martial’s fitness has become less reliable, and while Wout Weghorst brings a strong work rate, he lacks the goal-scoring prowess expected from a top striker.
A skilled centre-forward will immediately upgrade the team’s performance by converting half-chances into goals. Hence, United require a reliable and prolific striker to strengthen their attacking capabilities.
However, acquiring the Brazilian wonderkid will not immediately address United’s short-term striker issue. Given that Roque is only 18 years old, Erik ten Hag would need to loan him out to other clubs to aid in his development.
The Red Devils are currently following a similar approach with Amad Diallo, who is experiencing success while on loan at Sunderland, consistently scoring goals.
While securing a future-oriented striker is logical, the club should prioritise acquiring a first-team striker for the upcoming season.
It is quite clear that significant investments will be necessary to ensure a balanced first-team squad. Additionally, the club should be cautious about spending a substantial amount on a long-term project, considering they already possess promising talents in their youth academy.
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If manager Ten Hag needs a young forward, he can explore options within the United academy, where talents like Charlie McNeil and Joe Hugill are available for consideration.
Currently, the Red Devils should be targeting first-team players like Benfica’s Goncalo Ramos, Eintracht Frankfurt’s Randal Kolo Muani, and Atalanta’s Rasmus Hojlund.
