Cunha 2.0: Man Utd accelerating move to sign "the new Mbappe" for £50m

With just five Premier League games remaining this season, the Manchester United hierarchy will no doubt be starting to turn their attention towards the transfer window.

The lack of depth at centre-back - as highlighted against Chelsea - should no doubt make such an area of the pitch a potential priority for the Red Devils board.

Casemiro’s pending departure also creates a huge hole at the heart of the side, with multiple additions needing to be made to cover the loss of the Brazilian international.

However, it appears as though the attacking department could too receive new bodies, despite over £200m being splashed on a new forward trio less than 12 months ago.

Such a decision could prove to be a confusing one for the fans, but they will no doubt be excited by the calibre of player the club have been linked with in recent days.

Man Utd accelerating deal for £50m Premier League star

Over the last couple of days, Everton star Iliman Ndiaye has emerged as a key target for United in their attempts to improve the frontline at Old Trafford.

The Senegalese international has been in tremendous form this campaign, subsequently registering six goals and three assists in his 27 outings to date.

Any deal for the 26-year-old could cost in the region of £60m, with talks already being held between the player and the Red Devils over the possibility of a summer move.

However, Ndiaye isn’t the only Premier League forward in their sights at present, with Bournemouth star Eli Kroupi Junior another option currently being considered.

According to Football Insider, the Red Devils are 'accelerating their transfer plans' with a deal for the 19-year-old, who’s netted ten goals during his first season in the top-flight.

Competition is likely to be high for the Frenchman’s signature, with the report stating that the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool are also in the race to land his services.

Any deal would likely be an expensive one for the Red Devils this summer, as the Cherries are currently demanding a fee in the region of £50m to offload the wonderkid.

Why Kroupi would be Cunha 2.0 for Man Utd

Spending big on proven Premier League talents hasn’t been alien to United in recent times, as seen with the £62m deal to sign Matheus Cunha from Wolves last summer.

The Brazilian was part of the £200m spending spree from INEOS, with such a transfer massively improving the Red Devils’ options within the final third.

Within his 30 league games this term, the 26-year-old has registered 10 combined goals and assists - with his latest effort against Chelsea on Saturday securing all three points.

It’s not the first time Cunha has popped up with a key moment against a rival, as seen with his match winner against Arsenal back at the Emirates in January.

Whilst £62m was seen as a pricey fee at the time, the forward has proved to be worth every penny - with the club having the chance to replicate such a deal with Kroupi this summer.

Like Cunha, he’s been a shining light in a less established top-flight outfit, but is more than capable of consistently delivering the goods at the very top level.

The Frenchman’s tally of 10 goals demonstrates his quality within the final third, but his underlying stats further highlight his all-round ability with the ball at his feet.

Kroupi, who’s been dubbed “the new Mbappe” by Tiemoue Bakayoko, has registered a 45% shot on target accuracy rate, whilst also registering 1.2 shots on target per 90.

The aforementioned tallies both rank him within the top 9% of attackers in the division, whilst also scoring the most goals by any teenager in England’s top-flight.

However, away from his shot-taking ability, the youngster has also impressed, as seen by his remarkable tally of 1.3 chances created per 90 this season.

Such a stat is extremely similar to that of Cunha, with both players able to find the back of the net with a moment of magic, whilst being able to tee up a teammate if needed.

Without the ball, Kroupi is also a huge threat to the opposition - as seen by his incredible tally of 1.1 times possession won in the final third per 90, placing him in the top 6% of attackers.

£50m for a player of the Frenchman’s quality would be excellent business from United, with the youngster having bags of time to develop further in his career.

However, given the interest from their bitter Premier League rivals, the hierarchy must act quickly to avoid missing out on the teenager’s signature this summer.

Should Kroupi move to Old Trafford and emulate Cunha’s displays, the deal would be yet another bargain and one that could catapult the Red Devils towards title glory.

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