The Mirror is reporting that Manchester United are plotting a £22 million swoop for Barcelona forward Pedro to boost Louis van Gaal’s attacking options.
Van Gaal has allowed Robin van Persie and Radamel Falcao to leave United this summer, leaving his only striking options Wayne Rooney, Javier Hernandez and James Wilson.
Hernandez, who is recovering from a broken collarbone, spent last season on loan at Real Madrid and may yet be sold, while Wilson may be allowed out on loan.
That could leave a huge void in terms of Van Gaal’s forward options, despite the United boss having decided to play 4-3-3 next season, a formation requiring only one striker.
Van Gaal has turned his attention to Barca and Spain forward Pedro, who has a £22m buyout clause in his contract and is considering his future at the Nou Camp.
Pedro wants to be playing regular football ahead of the European Championships next summer and a move to United is likely to give him more game time. The 27-year-old scored the opener in Barca’s emphatic 3-1 Champions League final win over United at Wembley in 2011.
Although United are relaxed about adding another striker, with new signing Memphis Depay able to play in a central attacking role as well as out wide, they are exploring potential options.
Chelsea and Jose Mourinho have been strongly linked with a move to Chelsea recently, so it will be interesting to see if one the two sides expected to battle it out for the Premier League title next season, can land an early physiological blow by signing a player that the other wanted.
Do you think that Stamford Bridge or Old Trafford would suit Pedro better next season?