Why Manchester United should make a move for Andrea Belotti

According to Tuttosport (h/t Daily Mail), Manchester United are monitoring Seri A side Torino forward Andrea Belotti ahead of the summer transfer window.

Belotti, 26, having spent the majority of his youth career at UC AlbinoLeffe, moved to Palermo in 2013, initially on loan before making the move permanent a year later. Only a year after that was the Italian centre-forward snapped up by Torino, where he has grown leaps and bounds.

He has been a regular member of the squad since his arrival in 2015 and has scored 92 goals in 187 appearances for the club to date. The Italian is also the captain of his club team and the first-choice striker for his national team.

He was at his best in the 2015/16 season, bagging 26 Serie A goals and has been consistently scoring for the Turin-based club. Thus, United should manage to secure the services of the Italian this summer.

Belotti could provide depth and quality to Man United’s attack

Though Solskjaer has various quality options up front, bringing in a centre-forward would surely do them good. Marcus Rashford has been brilliant for the team this season and is enjoying one of his most productive seasons, bagging 22 goals and 11 assists across all competitions.

But he looks to be comfortable on the left side of the attack. Academy graduate Mason Greenwood is also enjoying a breakthrough campaign. He has also adapted to playing on the right side of the frontline.

This has left United with just two centre-forwards in Anthony Martial and Odion Ighalo. The Frenchman has been in sensational form in recent months and Ighalo has also done a decent job whenever called upon. However, the Nigerian is already 30 and doesn’t have much to offer in the future. Thus, signing a centre-forward in the summer would stock up their options in the attack.

In that regard, Belotti would be a viable option for the club. The Italian international has scored more than 10 goals in each of the last four league campaigns. He has also been in fine form this term, especially after the break, scoring 7 goals in the last 9 Serie A games, taking his tally to 22 goals in 39 games across all competitions.

His inclusion to Solskjaer’s squad would definitely bring healthy competition to the strikers, whilst also adding some much-needed depth and quality. And if he is able to replicate the same form, he could be a crucial player for the English outfit in the future.

Read more

• Why Mikel Oyarzabal to Manchester United would bolster their attack
• Why Manchester United should not let go of Marcus Rashford

Verdict

At 26, he is at the right moment to take a huge stride into the Premier League and United should be able to enjoy his best. He is one of the best forwards in Italy and could be a replacement for Ighalo, who is only on loan at Man United.