Bundesliga side RB Leipzig were close to signing highly rated Swiss international Breel Embolo just over a week ago, but that’s when Manchester United stepped in.
It is reported Jose Mourinho is keen on building a young team at Manchester United, and has already signed Eric Bailly from Villarreal.
According to a report in Germany’s SportBild, Manchester United have submitted an offer of €35m to Basel for Embolo.
The Premier League giants are also prepared to offer Embolo a salary of €5m a year, whilst Leipzig have offered €3m a year to the player and €20m plus bonuses to Basel.
Bild say Embolo’s mother wants her son to play in the Bundesliga, as she feels it’d be easier for him to make a name for himself in Germany.
In England, however, Stoke City star Xherdan Shaqiri could help Embolo to settle in, as he lives in the Manchester area and the pair are assumed to be friends.
The race to sign Embolo seems to be quite open, once again, but it’s very unlikely Leipzig can compete against Manchester United financially, and the player would also be tempted by the chance of playing for one of the biggest clubs and under Jose Mourinho.
SportBild say the situation remains unpredictable and insinuate Mourinho could change his mind at any moment if Embolo doesn’t commit quickly, but that doesn’t sound very Mourinho-like.
The Manchester United manager has shown on previous occasions how he chases players relentlessly. Maybe the idea of Mourinho giving up in a huff is an easy way out should the story prove to be untrue.
In Switzerland, where the Embolo to Manchester United claims started, it’s gone very quiet indeed on the transfer front.
The Swiss press are far more concerned with their upcoming match against France on Sunday. The big Embolo slant s fans taking to him so much that he has a song… to the tune of The Lion Sleeps Tonight.
Altogether now. A-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh.
