Carlos Vinicius has been in top form this season (Getty Images)
According to reports in Portuguese media (h/t The Sun), Manchester United have identified Benfica striker Carlos Vinicius as a transfer target, and are ready to bid £35m for the 25-year-old.
A product of the Santos academy, Vinicius had spells at Palmeiras B, Caldense, Anapolis GO. He moved to Europe in 2017, joining Portuguese club Real SC. The striker enjoyed a fruitful debut campaign, scoring 20 goals in 38 matches, prompting Napoli to sign him in 2018.
However, Vinicius was loaned out to Rio Ave in August 2018, where he scored 14 goals in 20 matches before joining AS Monaco on loan in January last year. Last summer saw the striker join Benfica permanently from Napoli and he has thrived since.
Manchester United have made a strong recovery in the second half of the 2019/20 campaign after a stuttering start to the season. Prior to the season getting suspended, the Red Devils had gone on an 11-game unbeaten run in all competitions.
United are currently stationed in the fifth place in the Premier League table. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side are also still in the hunt for the FA Cup and the UEFA Europa League.
There have been signs of progress under the Norwegian over the past year. But the squad needs further strengthening if Manchester United are to bring back the glory days at Old Trafford in the coming seasons.
Manchester United should prioritize signing a right-sided winger in the summer. But adding another striker would be a wise decision by the club.
After allowing Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez leave in the summer, the 20-time English champions entered the 2019/20 campaign with Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Mason Greenwood as the three strikers in the squad.
Rashford was brilliant in the first half of the season, scoring 19 goals and assisting 5 in 31 matches in all competitions. But a serious back injury saw him get ruled out of action in January. This forced the club to bring Odion Ighalo on loan in January.
Martial has picked up form since, and has bagged 16 goals and 5 assists in 34 matches. Greenwood has also impressed in his breakthrough season. Ighalo, too, in his short time at the club, has done fairly well. However, he is set to be recalled by Shanghai Shenhua, with the Chinese Super League season set to start soon.
Rashford’s best performances this term have come from the left flank (15 goals in 23 matches). And with Ighalo likely to return to China, Manchester United should bolster their centre-forward department further. In that regard, Vinicius would prove to be a handy addition.
Barring his loan spell at Monaco, the 25-year-old Brazilian has been a prolific goalscorer at all his clubs. Since joining Benfica last summer, he has already netted 20 goals and created 12 in 36 games in all competitions.
Signing him would add more depth and quality to the Manchester United squad. Moreover, the 25-year-old, if he carries forward his current form, would prove to be a fine addition for Solskjaer’s side next season.
Rashford has looked at his best on the left-wing and Ighalo is likely to return to China. Hence, Manchester United should bring in a new striker. And Vinicius, to that end, would be a handy addition. The Brazilian has been in prolific form this season and would add great quality to the Red Devils squad.
