Their answer to Yamal: Man Utd now in talks to sign "crazy" £38m wonderkid

Everything now rests on Manchester United lifting the Europa League in Bilbao to salvage some pride.

The Red Devils’ abysmal domestic season in the Premier League – away from potential European success – continued last time out versus Chelsea, with Enzo Maresca’s Blues dishing out a dire 18th loss of the league campaign.

A major revamp is needed at Old Trafford this summer, therefore, with Ruben Amorim needing to get this summer’s vital transfer window spot on.

Man United’s busy summer ahead

It won’t just be hectic with a whole load of incomings entering through the door, with reports suggesting that Rasmus Hojlund could be on his way out of the Theatre of Dreams alongside Marcus Rashford.

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But, away from ongoing talk involving who will be leaving the red half of Manchester, and the excitement levels begin to be raised, with both Matheus Cunha and Viktor Gyokeres routinely linked to Amorim’s men to spice up the attacking personnel.

The flashy names being linked don’t stop there though, with a new report from journalist Graeme Bailey revealing that United hold ‘substantial interest’ in 17-year-old River Plate hotshot Franco Mastantuono and have held talks with the player’s representatives this week.

This could be a tricky deal to get done this summer, however, with United having to fork out a high £38m to activate the South American’s release clause, amidst additional interest from the likes of Real Madrid, Liverpool and various other keen onlookers.

How Mastantuono could be Man United’s own Lamine Yamal

If United were successful in their pursuit of the enthralling teenager, Amorim and Co could be about to land their very own version of Barcelona superstar Lamine Yamal, with the Argentine winger also making insane waves in his native country.

Much like Yamal at the Camp Nou, Mastantuono has been heavily in the spotlight at River Plate from a very early age.

After all, the Buenos Aires-born attacker is immortalised forever now into the South American club’s rich history, with Mastantuono going down as the team’s youngest ever goalscorer when firing home a strike last year at just 16 years of age.

He hasn’t looked back since that landmark goal, with the left-footed ace now up to seven goals and nine assists in the senior team at River Plate, which included a sublime free-kick finding the back of the net against arch rivals Boca Juniors back in April.

Yamal – who operates down the same right-hand side as Mastantuono – is way out ahead with 24 goals and 34 assists next to his name in Hansi Flick’s starting XI in Spain, but it’s undeniable how similarly electric the two young attackers are, considering the amount of havoc they are both capable of with their dynamite left foot.

Heading to Old Trafford could also be a worthwhile environment for Mastantuono if he wants to advance his game, with a whole host of youngsters developed at the Red Devils for some time now handed their first senior opportunities this campaign under Amorim.

Moreover, the Portuguese boss has also taken a shine to Amad Diallo since arriving, meaning the “crazy” 5 foot 10 attacker – as he’s been labelled by Thierry Henry – could stand a chance at immediate first-team action with both the Ivorian and the South American blistering in style down the right flank.

Winning such a sought-after starlet could also boost United’s reputation after such a harrowing 2024/25 campaign, with Amorim’s approach of shifting on deadwood allowing the Red Devils to hopefully enter into a new era spearheaded by some immense future talents.

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