Aaron Ramsey for €20m might be the bargain of the summer
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is keen to bring three Juventus players to Manchester United this summer, according to reports in Italy.
Juventus are looking to offload some fringe players this summer to reduce the wage bill, which has put some real quality players in the shop window for whoever can afford them.
United have already made a €30m bid for one of them – Douglas Costa – according to Italian sports paper Corriere dello Sport. Juve are understood to be holding out for an extra €10m for the 29-year-old winger.
The Serie A champions would demands a similar fee for Federico Bernadeschi, another left footed winger they would be open to letting go but are by no means desperate to see the back of. Solskjaer is reportedly interested in both Costa and Bernadeschi, as he looks to add depth to his attacking options.
Another report from Tutto Juve adds that Aaron Ramsey is a third Juventus player who “doesn’t displease” Solskjaer.
The former Arsenal midfielder joined Juve on a free last summer but has not yet established a place in the starting line-up, with former manager Maurizio Sarri preferring to use him as a 10 rather than his preferred role as a right-sided number 8.
The report indicates Ramsey could be signed for as little as €20m. This cut price is likely due to a range of factors, but primarily the fact he earns a reported €400k a week, which Juventus are starting to see as a drain on resources.
Ramsey would not earn as much at Manchester United but if he could be persuaded to move back to England, he would offer a lot to the Red Devils’ midfield. More of a box-to-box midfielder than either Paul Pogba or Bruno Fernandes, he would provide a new dynamic and a goal threat running from deep.
Signing players no longer wanted by other superclubs can often be bad business. See: Barcelona signing Arturo Vidal. But in this instance it should not be scoffed at. All three players linked are under 30 and would give United the strength in depth they have been crying out for, ahead of a very congested season.
