Rasmus Hojlund may not be the only striker heading to Manchester United this summer, according to rumors that the Red Devils are also interested in Santos prodigy Marcos Leonardo.
How much would Marcos Leonardo set you back?
According to Italian outlet CalcioMercato.it, Manchester United are on the hunt for the 20-year-old Brazilian, who might be available for as little as €15 million (£13 million) this summer.
While the piece suggests that the 5 foot 9 ace is keen on joining former United boss Jose Mourinho at AS Roma, subsequent rumours claim that talks with the Serie A club have stagnated, potentially offering Erik ten Hag and co the opportunity to pounce.
While the former Ajax manager stated repeatedly last season that the squad plays its “best football” when the 27-year-old is on the field, it is difficult to ignore the reality that he has only scored 11 league goals in English football since the start of the 2020/21 season.
As a result, Ten Hag bringing in not only Hojlund but also Leonardo this summer might be the final straw in Martial’s time at the club, with rumors heading into the window claiming that the Red Devils are open to offers for the former Monaco star.
While still in his early stages, young Leonardo has been significantly more impressive in recent times, scoring 14 goals in 30 appearances in all competitions this season, compared to the current United man’s nine goals in 29 games in 2022/23.
Despite his youth, the Brazil U20 international has already scored 47 goals in 149 games for his current club at senior level, with talent scout Jacek Kulig characterizing him as a player with “all the tools to become an absolute killer in the penalty area.”
Kulig has also described the Santos sensation as “born to score,” and with six goals in only 12 league games this season, it’s easy to understand why there’s so much interest in his talents right now.
After eight years in Manchester, Martial has clearly had more than enough time and opportunities to impress, and the arrival of two young and hungry assets in the form of Hojlund and Leonardo should be the final nail in the coffin in terms of his time at the club.