Man Utd join race for star Monaco midfielder with £60m price tag in club revamp

Manchester United have emerged as surprise contenders to sign Monaco’s highly-rated attacking midfielder Maghnes Akliouche, with the Ligue 1 star likely to leave this summer.

The 23-year-old, valued at €70m-€80m (£60m-£68.6m), has caught the eye of Ruben Amorim and new director of recruitment Christopher Vivell, who are desperate to revamp United’s lackluster attack ahead of Amorim’s first full season.

United’s season has been a nightmare, slumping to 14th in the Premier League with just 38 goals in 32 games—worse than all but the bottom three.

Thursday’s 5-4 Europa League quarter-final win over Lyon, sealed by Harry Maguire's extra-time header, kept their Champions League hopes alive, but the attack’s frailty was clear.

According to L’Equipe, United have joined Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain in the race for Akliouche, whose 16 goal contributions (four goals, 12 assists) in 38 games this season highlight his potential.

His eight Ligue 1 assists from 27 appearances showcase his playmaking flair, though his modest four goals reflect a projection of future value rather than current dominance.

“He’s already at a top club,” L’Equipe notes, but Monaco expect him to depart despite his contract running to 2028.

Amorim sees Akliouche as a dynamic No. 10 to complement Fernandes in his 3-4-2-1, easing the load on the captain, who has 13 goal involvements.

United’s summer plans also include a striker—Wolves’ Matheus Cunha (£62.5m) and Ipswich’s Liam Delap (£40m) are targets—and a defender, with Sporting CP’s Goncalo Inacio (£38.5m) in talks.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s £310m budget relies on sales, with Marcus Rashford’s potential swap for Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins and Casemiro’s £350k-a-week exit to Roma on the table.

The €70m price tag has raised eyebrows, with City’s Pep Guardiola and PSG’s Luis Enrique also circling.

“Akliouche’s stats are serious, but £60m’s steep for four goals,” posted @UtdDistrict, echoing fan skepticism.

Yet @Sheeraz037 hyped the move: “Amorim’s building a monster squad!” United’s Europa League run, potentially worth £100m in Champions League revenue, could sway Akliouche, but Monaco’s high valuation and rival interest pose challenges.

If United pull off the deal, Akliouche could join Lyon’s Rayan Cherki (£25m) in a revamped attack, giving Amorim the tools to climb the table.

With Wolves up next on Sunday and Athletic Bilbao in the Europa League semi-finals, United’s transfer moves are heating up. Will Akliouche be the spark to ignite Old Trafford?