Manchester United have reportedly entered the race to sign Porto forward Luis Diaz as new interim manager Ralf Rangnick looks to make his mark in the January transfer window.
What’s the story?
According to Spanish outlet Fichajes, the Red Devils are of several European heavyweights interested in snapping up the highly-rated 24-year-old, with Juventus, Bayern Munich and Liverpool also listed as potential suitors.
The report states that Porto’s exit from the Champions League group stage could tempt them into selling their prized asset over the winter, although United’s fierce rivals from Merseyside are thought to be leading the chase.
Previous reports indicated he may not leave for less than €50m (£42m).
Ralf Rangnick would love him
Since arriving at the Estadio do Dragao from his homeland back in 2019, the Colombia international has quickly established himself as a key player for the Dragons.
In 107 appearances for Sergio Conceicao’s charges, Diaz has bagged 38 goals and provided a further 16 assists for his teammates, playing a pivotal part in their domestic double in 2019/20.
His impressive performances at club level have earned the creative talent 31 caps for his country, and he featured heavily for his nation in last summer’s Copa America, finishing as the tournament’s top scorer with four strikes.
And Diaz has elevated his game to new heights in the current campaign. He recently added another superb striking to an already impressive collection with a screamer in against Vitoria Guimaraes.
The beautiful goal was perfectly summed up by Marino Peixoto, a Portuguese football enthusiast, who took to social media to laud the ‘frightening’ South American’s impressive talents.
“The rate at which Luís Diaz is churning out otherworldly performances coupled with his ability to score screamers like this on a consistent basis is genuinely frightening,” he wrote. “Only a matter of time before somebody pays an astronomical fee for him.”
Furthermore, quotes from Sergio Oliveira on the forward paint him in an extremely positive light too: “I don’t have to answer, we know his qualities, apart from the human level he is also extraordinary on a technical level.”
With Jesse Lingard, Juan Mata, Edinson Cavani and Paul Pogba all out of contract at the conclusion of 2021/22, it’s likely that Rangnick will need some attacking reinforcements over the next couple of transfer windows.
And Diaz could be the ideal candidate to continue the progression being made in the red half of Manchester under the renowned 63-year-old tactician.
Over the last few years, the £22.5m-rated magician has cultivated a reputation for being an elite-level dribbler who is capable of playing defence-splitting passes while also being able to finish with alarming regularity.
Those are a set of frightening and quite frankly jaw-dropping skills that Rangnick would surely love to have at his disposal, meaning a move could be on the cards over the winter window.
And, in other news…Rangnick must seal Man Utd move for £46k-p/w “phenomenon”, he is “out of the ordinary”