Latest news with #Boudaoui
Metro
8 hours ago
- Business
- Metro
Man Utd keen on £20m midfielder - but can't complete transfer until deadline day
Manchester United are interested in signing a £20million-rated star from Sir Jim Ratcliffe-owned Nice – but won't be able to do so until transfer deadline day. Following by far their worst season in Premier League history, United's squad is being rebuilt under Ruben Amorim and INEOS. Fixing the misfiring attack has been the first priority, with Matheus Cunha already through the door following a £62.5m transfer from Wolves. The Red Devils are also trying to sign Brentford's Bryan Mbeumo but face competition from Tottenham, as well as striker Hugo Ekitike. But all areas of the squad need to be improved and, with Casemiro up for sale and Manuel Ugarte enduring a difficult first season at Old Trafford, a new holding midfielder is desirable. Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro's Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link so we can send you football news tailored to you. With money tight following their failure to qualify for the Champions League, cut-price options are being explored, with The Sun reporting that United recently sent scouts to watch Hicham Boudaoui on international duty. The Algerian started in last week's friendly against Sweden and performed well despite the African side losing 4-3 in Stockholm. The 25-year-old enjoyed a great season in Ligue 1 with Nice, where he has played since 2019, and has the physical profile Amorim desires. It is said Nice value Boudaoui, who has just two years left on his contract, at £20m, with other clubs in the Premier League, La Liga and Bundesliga keeping tabs on him. More Trending United's interest comes with a catch however, as Ratcliffe and INEOS own both the Red Devils and Nice, with an agreement in place not to move any players between the two clubs until this September. The agreement was made to appease UEFA given their concerns over multi-club ownership as both sides played in the Europa League last season. As such no transfer can take place until September 1 – with the transfer deadline in England and France that day at 7pm UK time. While Boudaoui is cheaper than some other targets, United will still need to raise funds by offloading unwanted stars, chief among which are Marcus Rashford, Antony, Jadon Sancho and Alejandro Garnacho. For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: Arsenal make £7.6m contract offer to sign £53m star ahead of Barcelona MORE: Chelsea open talks to sign £17m Jadon Sancho replacement during Club World Cup MORE: Newly-promoted Premier League side keen to sign unwanted £30m Chelsea star
Scottish Sun
13 hours ago
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Man Utd scout £20m star from Sir Jim Ratcliffe's Nice as Ruben Amorim demands more physical players in transfer window
But a deal cannot take place until the final day of the transfer window FRENCH FANCY Man Utd scout £20m star from Sir Jim Ratcliffe's Nice as Ruben Amorim demands more physical players in transfer window Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) MANCHESTER UNITED have been scouting a holding midfielder from fellow Ineos-owned club Nice as they consider cut-price options. United sent a scout to Sweden's international friendly against Algeria last week to check on the player, who has been tipped to leave the Ligue 1 club this summer. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Manchester Utited are scouting Hicham Boudaou from Sir Jim Ratcliffe's Nice Credit: Getty 4 Ratcliffe's company, Ineos, own 100 per cent of Ligue 1 side Nice Credit: AFP The Red Devils' official went to Friends Arena in Solna to monitor Hicham Boudaoui, according to reports in Algeria. Despite coming off after an hour, with his team trailing 4-0, Boudaoui demonstrated why many in France think he is ready for the Premier League. The 25-year-old won all of his ground duels and looked unruffled when put under pressure inside Algeria's half. He also showed a great range of passing with one excellent switch of play out to the right flank. And he even came close to grabbing a goal with a drilled effort from the corner of the penalty area that flew only a yard or so wide of the far post. Boudaoui is coming off an excellent season in France in which he emerged as one of the best in Ligue 1 in his position. In figures published in April by Datascout, he came out on top among 49 defensive midfielders for sprinting speed, fourth for the number of accelerations and sixth for high-intensity distance covered. Ruben Amorim is desperate to bring players with a more physical profile to the Old Trafford and Boudaoui certainly fits the bill. 4 Join SUN CLUB for the Man Utd Files every Thursday plus in-depth coverage and exclusives from Old Trafford The Red Devils were unable to sign players from Nice last summer because both clubs were set to feature in the Europa League. Sir Jim Ratcliffe agreed not to move any players between the clubs until September 2025 to satisfy Uefa's concerns over multi-club ownership. Man Utd stars 'intimidated' by weight of shirt but can still thrive after leaving like McTominay, says Angel Gomes That means any deal for Boudaoui cannot take place until the final day of the summer transfer window with the deadline for Premier League clubs set for 7pm on September 1. Other Premier League clubs have been sniffing around while reports in France have linked Boudaoui, who has two years left on his contract, with unnamed clubs in Spain and Germany. Nice could demand £20m for the midfielder but transfer funds are likely to be tight at Old Trafford. United have already splurged £62.5m on Matheus Cunha and may now need to sell in order to finance further high-profile transfers.
The Irish Sun
13 hours ago
- Business
- The Irish Sun
Man Utd scout £20m star from Sir Jim Ratcliffe's Nice as Ruben Amorim demands more physical players in transfer window
MANCHESTER UNITED have been scouting a holding midfielder from fellow Ineos-owned club Nice as they consider cut-price options. United sent a scout to Sweden's international friendly against Algeria last week to check on the player, who has been tipped to leave the Ligue 1 club this summer . 4 Manchester Utited are scouting Hicham Boudaou from Sir Jim Ratcliffe's Nice Credit: Getty 4 Ratcliffe's company, Ineos, own 100 per cent of Ligue 1 side Nice Credit: AFP The Red Devils' official went to Friends Arena in Solna to monitor Hicham Boudaoui, according to reports in Algeria. Despite coming off after an hour, with his team trailing 4-0, Boudaoui demonstrated why many in The 25-year-old won all of his ground duels and looked unruffled when put under pressure inside Algeria's half. He also showed a great range of passing with one excellent switch of play out to the right flank. READ MORE MAN UTD NEWS And he even came close to grabbing a goal with a drilled effort from the corner of the penalty area that flew only a yard or so wide of the far post. Boudaoui is coming off an excellent season in France in which he emerged as one of the best in Ligue 1 in his position. In figures published in April by Old Trafford and Boudaoui certainly fits the bill . Most read in Football 4 Join SUN CLUB for the Man Utd Files every Thursday plus in-depth coverage and exclusives from Old Trafford The Red Devils were unable to sign players from Nice last summer because both clubs were set to feature in the Europa League. Sir Jim Ratcliffe agreed not to move any players between the clubs until September 2025 to satisfy Uefa's concerns over multi-club ownership. Man Utd stars 'intimidated' by weight of shirt but can still thrive after leaving like McTominay, says Angel Gomes That means any deal for Boudaoui cannot take place until the final day of the summer transfer window with the deadline for Premier League clubs set for 7pm on September 1. Other Premier League clubs have been sniffing around while reports in Spain and Germany . Nice could demand £20m for the midfielder but transfer funds are likely to be tight at Old Trafford. United have already splurged £62.5m on 4 Boudaoui represents Algeria with new Manchester City signing Rayan Ait Nouri
