Man Utd flop ‘dreaming’ of bargain summer transfer return after Ten Hag decision

Former Manchester United midfielder Sofyan Amrabat still harbours aspirations of donning the Red Devils’ shirt once more, despite the club’s decision to pass on the option of a permanent deal this summer.

The Moroccan international made the switch to United on a temporary basis from Fiorentina at the conclusion of the previous summer’s transfer window, reuniting with manager Erik ten Hag with whom he had previously worked at Utrecht. United shelled out an upfront fee of £8.5million and held the option to secure his services permanently for an additional £21.5million, a clause they ultimately chose not to trigger.

Amrabat’s Premier League playing time fell short of 1,000 minutes, yet he was in the starting lineup for the season’s last three matches and remained on the pitch for the entirety of United’s triumphant FA Cup final. Post-match, he hinted that discussions about his future were still active.

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“Staying is certainly an option,” he remarked, reflecting on what he described as a ‘difficult season’ both personally and for the team. Currently back with his parent club, Amrabat hasn’t abandoned the idea of a return to United for the 2024-25 campaign.

Italian outlet Corriere dello Sport claims that Amrabat continues to dream of a comeback at Old Trafford, even amidst interest from Turkish clubs and others. The report also notes that a fee of €15million (£12.7m) might suffice to secure Amrabat’s signature, a figure lower than the previously agreed sum prior to his loan stint, writes the Mirror.

Amrabat has been with Fiorentina since 2020, clocking up 107 appearances, including their loss to West Ham in the 2023 Europa Conference League final. With just one year left on his contract with the Viola, his future remains a topic of speculation.

Ten Hag has yet to bolster their squad for the upcoming season after renewing his own contract. However, with the arrival of part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe earlier this year, as well as a fresh backroom team including Dan Ashworth, Omar Berrada and Jason Wilcox, a busy summer is anticipated.