'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
What's the story?
Manchester United are not having the best of times at the moment. After 3 successive draws - a combination of unluckiness, hectic scheduling, and poor quality at both ends of the pitch (as per the gaffer himself, and most of us who have seen them play) - they appear to be done and out in the league... but football, bloody hell, eh?
Part of what allowed Manchester United to build such a successful empire in England was their unabashed preparedness to go out and buy whoever was required to fill whatever hole was emerging... and it appears they haven't lost that trait yet.
Well, at least if the good folk over at the Daily Star are to be believed. They claim that Manchester United are ready to move in and swoop for Inter Milan's talismanic captain Mauro Icardi - and with Inter not having any of it, this may mean United will activate the Argentine's new €129 million clause - smashing their own club record and the Premier League transfer record in the process.
In case you didn't know
Mauro Icardi is said to have stated moving to Manchester United was a 'dream move' - as per the same reports - and wife Wanda Nara, who is also his agent, is said to be maneuvering a favourable deal for the man who is currently sitting pretty atop the Capocannonieri rankings - he has 17 Serie A goals at one every 98 minutes and is in the form of his life.
The heart of the matter
With Romelu Lukaku looking so isolated up top, it's hard to fix blame on United's recent dearth of goals on the big Belgian, but with him showing great link-up play when dropping a touch deeper, Mourinho may be looking for a more ruthless finisher to partner the Belgian with and maximise the best attributes of both players
Video
Mauro Icardi doing his thing in 2017 -
Lad would improve any team he walked into, eh?
Author's Take
Icardi himself does not seem desperate to leave and with Luciano Spaletti endearing himself to the Inter squad, he may see out the season and then take it from there. If United do force his hand, though, with a bid to activate the release clause, things may take an interesting turn... especially as he's not even cup-tied for Europe!
