Manchester United are reportedly considering making an offer worth €100m for Paris Saint-Germain playmaker Marco Verratti this summer.
The Italian international is currently sidelined through injury and will therefore not feature at Euro 2016, and his absence will be a huge blow for Antonio Conte.
However, in a surprise development, as reported by Corriere dello Sport, it’s claimed that United are preparing an offer of €100m to prise him away from the Ligue 1 champions.
Verratti is under contract with the club until 2020, but has reportedly been offered a salary of €8.5m per season, with Corriere far from being a whimsical source.
Nevertheless, despite how talented the 23-year-old is and how important will he will be for both club and country for years to come, it’s still questionable as to whether he’s really worth €100m.
The former Pescara starlet has been widely regarded as the heir to Andrea Pirlo for years, such is the quality of his passing and ability to dictate a game from the middle of the pitch.
While he will undoubtedly go on to become an established international and one of the best in Europe, it remains to be seen whether or not that’s with PSG or if one of their European rivals swoop for him.
United are already expected to sign Zlatan Ibrahimovic this summer with his contract with the Parisian club expiring at the end of the month, and he could be tempted into having a quiet word with United officials about bringing his former teammate with him.
Verratti will bring plenty of class and flair to Jose Mourinho’s side if he does sign, but at this stage, it’s difficult to firstly envisage PSG selling, and secondly seeing United come up with €100m to spend on him when they have various areas of the squad to strengthen ahead of next season.