Given the difficulties in signing Joao Mario and Antonio Candreva, Inter Milan have now set their sights on Manchester United star Adnan Januzaj in an initial loan deal with an option to buy him permanently next summer.
According to Italian journal Calcimercato, the Serie A giants see Januzaj as the perfect fit to lift Roberto Mancini’s attacking plans which will be more or less led by a 4-2-3-1 formation.
The 21-year old star has gone through a difficult last few months at Old Trafford after breaking on the scene under David Moyes. The Belgian winger was loaned to Borussia Dortmund last season but was sent back in January given his poor training attitude.
Since then he was benched constantly by Louis Van Gaal and it has not been a good start for him under the new manager either. Despite some off-handed reports of him impressing Jose Mourinho, the new Manchester United manager has put Januzaj up for sale according to various reports.
Premier League club Middleborough have shown a keen interest in signing the Belgian International but with Inter Milan’s rich history, Januzaj could be tempted to join them ahead of any other side.
Januzaj’s place in the United team next season has come under threat after the recent arrival of Henrikh Mkhitaryan from Dortmund. Memphis Depay, Ashley Young, Jesse Lingard and Juan Mata are already ahead in the pecking order which has put Januzaj on the verge of an Old Trafford exit.
Despite featuring in the 2-0 win over Wigan in United’s first pre-season friendly, the winger’s time at the club is nearing an end with Inter Milan ready to offer him with an escape route.
Calcimercato claims that it would take a deal close to €8million to convince United to loan out their young winger with an option to buy him next summer. Januzaj is contracted with United until 2018 and has made over 50 appearances scoring five goals.
Elsewhere Jose Mourinho is still pushing to sign a couple of more players before the start of next season. Paul Pogba, Blaise Matuidi and James Rodriguez are some of the names linked with a switch to Old Trafford in coming weeks.
