Man United could repeat Martinez masterclass by signing UCL star

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag could be looking to raid his former club Ajax once again, amid reports that the Dutchman is eyeing a move for Ghanaian sensation, Mohammed Kudus.

What’s the latest on Kudus to Man United?

According to Football Insider, the Red Devils are said to have ‘made contact’ with the 22-year-old regarding a potential summer move, with the player himself seemingly keen on reuniting with Ten Hag in England.

The report suggests that the versatile forward – whose existing deal in Amsterdam is set to run until 2025 – could command a fee of around £48m if he is to make the switch ahead of next season, with the Old Trafford outfit having already snapped up Lisandro Martinez and Antony from the Eredivisie side last summer on £56.7m and £86m deals, respectively.

This follows a report from Manchester Evening News earlier this week that suggested the United boss believes Kudus has ‘the attributes to excel in the Premier League‘, while The Athletic revealed back in December that the 53-year-old also ‘admirers the skill and dynamism’ of the youngster.

Could Kudus be Man United’s next Martinez?

Should Ten Hag bring in the former Nordsjaelland man in the coming months, the experienced coach will be hoping that the fleet-footed gem can replicate the impact of the aforementioned Martinez, in particular, at the Theatre of Dreams.

While Antony has somewhat flattered to deceive thus far – having been branded a “bluffer” by talkSPORT pundit Gabby Agbonlahor – the World Cup-winning Argentine has been a rock-solid presence at centre-back, having been lauded as an “absolute monster” by teammate Luke Shaw.

Credited by his manager with helping to bring “personality” and “character” to the club, the 25-year-old has seemingly ‘relished‘ the challenge of adapting to life in the Premier League, as per BBC Sport pundit Garth Crooks, having also been vital in ending the club’s almost six-year trophy drought.

While Kudus will be aiming to make an impact at the other end of the pitch, the 5 foot 9 speedster can look to Martinez as inspiration with regard to how to transition from the Netherlands to English football, with the hope being that the exciting talent can also thrive for the Red Devils.

Lauded as a player “destined for big things” who has an “amazing engine” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the 21-cap machine has already contributed 16 goals in just 32 games in all competitions this season, offering the flexibility to be able to feature through the middle, on the flanks or in an attacking midfield berth.

Despite seeing his side ultimately crash out of the Champions League group stage, Kudus was particularly impressive in his six outings in the competition as he provided four goals and two assists, notably endearing himself to his potential future employers after scoring against Liverpool at Anfield back in September.

The left-footed ace has not only provided a cutting edge in the final third but is also a real threat with his ability to beat a man and drive his side up the pitch, showcased by the fact that he ranks in the top 1% among his peers in the Men’s next eight competitions, as per FBref, for successful take-ons, as well as in the top 5% for progressive carries.

Such quality would undoubtedly provide further firepower to United’s attacking arsenal, with Kudus a viable option to consider this summer in the search for a new centre-forward recruit.