Manchester United have been offered the chance to sign Real Madrid’s James Rodriguez on a cut-price deal.
That’s according to The Sun who claim the Colombian has been a long-term target of the Red Devils.
It’s reported that Real Madrid are willing to let the £28.8m-rated man’s contract run down, therefore, enabling United to sign him on the cheap.
Once valued at £100m, his stock has dropped considerably since his mesmeric World Cup campaign in 2014 where he finished as the tournament’s top scorer.
Since then, the tricky attacking midfielder has been cast out on loan to Bayern Munich, failing to really establish himself in the Spanish capital.
Zinedine Zidane’s side are worried they’ll struggle to get anywhere close to half of that previous value, which could allow Ed Woodward and co to swoop in.
Despite a reported low fee, he is on £250,000 a week according to The Sun.
GIVE ME SPORT’S Matt Dawson says...
James is a player blessed with real quality. During the 2014 World Cup he earned comparisons to both Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi from Uruguay’s coach Oscar Tabarez.
Such was the 28-year-old’s glowing campaign – six goals in five games – he earned an immediate move to Madrid.
However, he hasn’t started in the league since October and he’s fallen out of favour considerably. Rodriguez can play on the flanks and through the middle but is preferred in the latter, starting three times there this term.
With that in mind, a move for a creative talent such as the Madrid man would be foolish. After all, United signed Bruno Fernandes in January, a similar player who has taken to the Premier League like a duck to water.
Since arriving, the 25-year-old has scored twice and racked up three assists in just five league outings. It feels unlikely that United could fit both Fernandes and Rodriguez into the same team, especially when you consider that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer needs to keep Paul Pogba happy.
Six years ago this would have been an inspired piece of business, but even at the cut-price United may be able to pay this summer, they shouldn’t go near it.