Man Utd begin work on signing big-money winger who’s like prime Rashford

Over the years, Manchester United fans have often been blessed by a plethora of top-attacking talents who have handed the supporters memories to last a lifetime.

Last summer alone, the Red Devils hierarchy spent upwards of £200m on new attacking talent to help the club return to Premier League glory in the near future.

The likes of Benjamin Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha all made the move to Old Trafford, with their additions already proving to be a huge success.

The aforementioned trio have netted 28 league goals between them this term, ultimately helping the Red Devils secure a return to Champions League football for 2026/27.

However, despite the immediate impact of the new trio in Manchester, INEOS have once again set their sights high for added reinforcements in the upcoming summer window.

Man Utd start work on deal to land attacking star

Over the last couple of days, United have emerged as potential candidates to land PSG winger Bradley Barcola when the transfer window opens in early June.

The Frenchman has fallen down Luis Enrique’s pecking order in recent months, leading to the possibility of a summer switch to the Premier League.

A £61m price tag has been mooted for the winger’s signature this summer, with local rivals Liverpool another side keen on a move to land the 23-year-old.

Barcola isn’t the only left-sided forward who has appeared in the hierarchy’s sights as of late, with AC Milan star Rafael Leao another option being considered.

According to Football Insider, United officials have been watching the Portuguese international in recent weeks and have started work on his signature.

The report also states that the 26-year-old is appearing as a viable option this summer, with the Serie A side open to allowing the forward to depart the San Siro.

A £40m transfer fee has been mentioned for Leao’s signature, but it’s unclear how much the Red Devils are willing to pay for his services in the months ahead.

Why Leao would be like a prime Rashford for United

United have previously been the home to numerous top-level left-wing talents, with academy graduate Marcus Rashford just one star who’s filled the void in recent years.

The Englishman emerged through the youth ranks before cementing his place off the left-hand side of the attack – subsequently producing some incredible numbers in the process.

The 2022/23 campaign was undoubtedly his best at Old Trafford, as seen by his tally of 30 goals and nine assists in his 56 appearances across all competitions.

However, he’s since struggled to be a consistent first-team member, even spending this season out on loan at Barcelona to gain valuable minutes to continue his development.

Rashford has been in remarkable form once again this campaign, registering 25 goals and assists for the Spanish giants – who have a £26m option to buy this summer.

It now appears highly unlikely that the Englishman will return to his boyhood club, potentially opening the door for a £40m move for Leao when the window opens.

The Portuguese international is arguably the perfect player to replace Rashford in Manchester, with his stats this season highlighting his impressive ability in attacking areas.

Leao, who’s been dubbed “one of the best LWs in the world” by analyst and scout Ben Mattinson, has registered 1.2 shots on target per 90, at an accuracy rate of 38%.

Both of the aforementioned tallies rank him in the top 20% of forwards in Italy, subsequently demonstrating a similar ball-striking ability to that of Rashford.

However, he’s also been able to glide past the opposition at ease this campaign, as seen by his remarkable tally of 1.2 successful dribbles completed per 90.

The Portuguese star has also added an end product to his mazy runs in recent times, as seen by his 40% cross success rate – placing him in the top 15% of wingers in Europe.

Other tallies, such as 0.5 big chances created per 90 and 1.7 fouls won per 90, highlight the threat he poses to the opposition – often striking fear into them, as Rashford did at Old Trafford.

Rashford’s pending departure will no doubt be a sad sight given his career in Manchester, but ultimately, a permanent transfer could prove to be the best option for all parties.

A move for Leao could hand the Red Devils their next version of the star attacker and subsequently improve the options available within the final third of the pitch.

£40m would be an excellent piece of business for a player of the Portuguese international’s quality, whilst also having the chance to improve further during the prime years of his career.