Under Sir Alex Ferguson, Manchester United were renowned for stealing in at the last to deny rivals something they thought they had wrapped up.
But they might be about to get a taste of their own medicine, as two of the club’s transfer targets are thought to be wanted by rivals Chelsea and Arsenal.
United’s pursuit of Atlético Madrid’s Saúl Ñíguez and Inter striker Mauro Icardi have been well-documented, but the pair could now be set for London moves this summer.
Local reports in Spain and Italy respectively suggest United are by no means favourites for either player, and failure to qualify for next season’s Champions League could put a dent in their hopes of recruiting either man.
TuttoSport suggest José Mourinho will “do anything” to tempt captain Icardi away from Inter when his seemingly inevitable move to Old Trafford goes through in the summer, though Chelsea manager-elect Antonio Conte is also believed to be a fan of the player.
Meanwhile AS claim Atléti hope to convince Ñíguez to sign a new deal, though the Spanish outlet suggests United, Arsenal and Galatasaray are all potential destinations for the uncapped 21-year-old.
