Manchester United plotting summer raid for 18-year-old Arsenal target and Santos starlet

18th March 2016

Categories: Arsenal, Atletico Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, Europe, Fiorentina, German Football, Italian Football, Manchester United, Premier League, Spanish Football, Transfers

Manchester United are reportedly plotting a summer bid for Brazil youth international Thiago Maia, according to Sport Witness (via the Daily Express).

The 13-time Premier League champions, who were knocked out of the UEFA Europa League on Thursday night against rivals Liverpool at Old Trafford, are interested in recruiting the Santos star once the 2015-16 campaign has concluded.

The 18-year-old, who has four international caps for Brazil’s Under-20 squad, scored two goals in 28 league games for the Brazilian Serie A outfit last season.

However Maia, who was reportedly the subject of a failed bid from English top-flight rivals Arsenal back in December, is also said to be attracting interest from the likes of Atletico Madrid, Fiorentina and Bayer Leverkusen this summer.

Louis van Gaal’s men currently sit sixth in the Premier League table following their most recent 1-0 defeat to the hands of West Brom, four points adrift of fourth placed Manchester City as they seek to qualify for the Champions League group stages once again next term.