Manchester United make contact with Brighton over midfielder Moises Caicedo; no official approach or bid yet with the focus on Chelsea’s Mason Mount and trying to recruit a striker; Inter Milan goalkeeper Andre Onana emerging as a top target with David De Gea’s future in the balance
Manchester United are expected to formally approach Brighton over midfielder Moises Caicedo after making initial contact this week, but the club’s focus remains on signing Chelsea’s Mason Mount and recruiting a striker.
United have been searching for a new midfielder already this summer, with a £55m bid for Mount still on the table.
United are expected to re-iterate to Chelsea their desire to sign the England international but will make it clear once again they are comfortable with their £55m offer, although negotiating on the structure of the deal has not been ruled out.
It is thought United feel the price is fair and realistic for a player who is into the final year of his contract and who wants to join.
United continue to look at other midfielders including Brighton’s Caicedo, but no official approach or bid has been made yet.
Caicedo was in fine form for Brighton throughout his first full season at the Amex Stadium, leading to a £70m rejected bid by Arsenal in January, and a transfer request on the same day – which was later rescinded.
This is not the first time United have considered in the 21-year-old. In January 2021, they pulled back on their interest in him when he was still playing for Ecuadorian side Independiente del Valle as a 19-year-old, days before he agreed to join Brighton.
Erik ten Hag’s side had also retained an interest in Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot, but the 28-year-old has signed a one-year contract extension at the Italian side.
Inter goalkeeper Onana emerging as a top target
Sky Sports News has been told United are actively looking at goalkeepers while David De Gea’s future remains “in the balance”.
Inter Milan goalkeeper Andre Onana is emerging as a top target with one source indicating a potential approach is being driven by manager Ten Hag having managed him at Ajax.
United have also looked at Brentford’s David Raya and Porto’s Diogo Costa.
De Gea will be out of contract on Saturday and is on United’s released list while talks over a new deal continue.
It is understood the Spaniard and United are considering their options.
While boss Ten Hag has publicly backed De Gea, he cannot guarantee he will be No 1 next season if he was to stay.
Analysis: Is Man Utd’s Caicedo interest genuine?
Sky Sports News’ Dharmesh Sheth:
“Manchester United have always had an interest in Moises Caicedo, but cynics will look at this in a different way and see them initially going for a Chelsea player, and because they can’t get the deal that they want, the noises that are emanating about other targets involve someone that Chelsea are also after.
“That could be, maybe, to try to accelerate a Mason Mount deal on their terms. Or, we take it on face value, Mount will be out of the equation, and they’ll go for Moises Caicedo.”
How Caicedo went from from tearful teenager in Ecuador to Arsenal, Chelsea and Man Utd target
Sky Sports’ Nick Wright:
“Graham Potter used him, successfully, as a left-sided No 8 at the start of the season following a transitional first year which included a loan spell in Belgium with Beerschot. But Roberto De Zerbi, Potter’s successor, dropped him back to the base of midfield, even deploying him, at times, as a makeshift right-back.
“Caicedo excelled wherever required, starting 34 of Brighton’s 38 Premier League games and playing a crucial role in the most successful season in the club’s history, the statistics helping to underline the extent of his influence in and out of possession.
“As a ball-winner, he is among the very best in the division.”
Read more of Nick Wright’s feature on Caicedo here
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