Swiss website 20 Minutes on Thursday claim that Manchester United may be just about to scupper RB Leipzig’s chances of signing Breel Embolo.
The FC Basel player has been on the verge of joining several clubs over the past six months, with German sides especially linked, but there has also been claimed interest from the Premier League.
Embolo is young, fast and very talented, interest from England would be no surprise. Back in November, we covered claims from another Swiss newspaper, Blick, that Manchester United had sent scout Peter Braund to watch FC Basel play Fiorentina in the Europa League.
We explained at the time: ‘Blick believe that Braund’s target at the match was Borja Valero, but we’re not buying that.
Quite simply, 30 year old Valero isn’t of the standard which would improve Manchester United, either as a squad player or in the team.
The much likelier target will have been Breel Embolo of Basel. The 18 year old Swiss international isn’t as well known as perhaps he should be, but is gathering a list of admirers which includes Wolfsburg, Barcelona, Arsenal and Tottenham.
A quick striker, Embolo will surely be purchased by someone in the summer. Wolfsburg had hoped they had the player all sewn up but increasing interest means they may miss out.’
20 Minutes say that Manchester United are in discussions with relevant parties about signing Embolo. The youngster had wanted his future to be sorted out before the Swiss start their Euro 2016 campaign this weekend, but Manchester United’s intervention could change everything.
The report could be designed to panic RB Leipzig into completion, and 20 Minutes haven’t got the best reputation in their own country, but then few newspapers have.
