Man United could have another Ryan Giggs on their hands with £60m dream summer transfer

Man United could have another Ryan Giggs on their hands with £60m dream summer transfer

Manchester United have reportedly found a new summer transfer target – and he could be precisely what they need.

If Manchester United intend to persist with the direct style of play that Erik ten Hag has brought to Old Trafford this season, then they will surely need more firepower up front – and, more specifically, more players who have the speed and dribbling skills to get at defenders quickly, break the lines, and latch onto long balls. What they need, really, is Ryan Giggs.

Brahim Diaz who has recently changed international allegiance from Spain to Morocco and is expected to make his debut for the North African nation in the upcoming international break, has returned to Real Madrid after a three-year loan spell at AC Milan and has impressed, albeit as a rotational piece in Carlo Ancelotti’s title-bound Madridista machine.

HITC’s report suggests that Díaz’s representatives have briefed that the winger has no intention of leaving Real, but one wonders whether that tune will change if Real complete the widely-expected signing of Kylian Mbappé.

Díaz is already competing for minutes with Rodrygo at wide right, and would surely be forced some way down the pecking order if the French superstar does indeed make his way to the Spanish capital this summer.

At that point he would be behind three of the best players in the world – not just Mbappé but also Jude Bellingham and Vinícius Junior, given that Ancelotti has occasionally deployed Díaz through the middle and on the left.

Perhaps the soon-to-be-minted Moroccan will relish a challenge like that, but it doesn’t take a genius to envisage him wanting to check whether the grass may be greener elsewhere.

It would also make a lot of sense for United to be interested in signing him. United have spent a lot of this season looking for quick vertical passes upfield, but don’t necessarily have many players who excel at exploiting them.

Alejandro Garnacho has been superb since the turn of the year but is still callow and error-prone, while Marcus Rashford is a fabulous direct threat when on song but has been producing all too many bum notes in recent months. Beyond those two, the well runs rather dry.

Díaz has the required qualities in spades. His burst of acceleration, lightning fast feet and instinctive close control allow him to break past his man with regularity and his work when he gets into dangerous areas isn’t bad either – despite not being a regular starter, he’s bagged nine goals, the best mark of his career.

And while he’s only picked up four assists so far, he managed 13 last season and continues to generate plenty of chances with his sharp short-range passes, which have been getting more accurate and more dangerous as his game has developed.