Manchester United and Manchester City will do battle in the race to sign Monaco winger Maghnes Akliouche, a report has claimed.
The 23-year-old is enjoying a breakout year on the right side of Monaco’s attack, racking up six goals and ten assists for a side locked in a battle to qualify for next season’s Champions League.
L’Equipe claim Monaco made it clear to Akliouche early this season that he will be allowed to leave the club this summer for the right price, with the France Under-21 international keen to join a Champions League side who can help him grow in the competition for the next decade.
A move to the Premier League is expected to be on the cards for Akliouche. It is City who are showing the strongest interest in the right-sided forward as they look to replace the creativity which will follow Kevin De Bruyne out the exit door this summer.
United are hopeful of qualifying for the Champions League by winning the Europa League. The Red Devils are known to be ready to spend big if they do secure the riches of Europe’s top competition, with Southampton youngster Tyler Dibling another under consideration.
Monaco are prepared to demand as much as €80m (£68.6m) to sell Akliouche, who is tied to the club until 2028 and is known to be on Paris Saint-Germain’s radar as the Champions League semi-finalists look to continue adding to their young, homegrown core.
“We are delighted with what he has achieved over the past two seasons,” Monaco manager Adi Hutter reflected. “He has taken a big step in the right direction.
“He has become a talented, successful player. He is only 23 years old and I don’t see many players with as much quality as him. He is ready for the next step, to become a great player for a big club. We can imagine that there will be offers for him.”
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