Manchester United are reportedly battling with Chelsea and Liverpool over a deal to sign Galatasaray midfielder Aleksey Batrakov, as per TEAMtalk.
The 21-year-old showcased his productivity for Lokomotiv Moscow last season, scoring 17 goals and registering 10 assists in 36 appearances across all competitions.
So, after being impressed by his performances, Cimbom decided to purchase him last summer. He has enjoyed a bright start at Rams Park Stadyumu, making four goal contributions in 10 matches across the Champions League and Turkish Super Lig this season.
Having shown glimpses of his qualities in club football, the youngster has secured his place in the Russian national team.
Now, TEAMtalk state that Liverpool and Arsenal have stepped up their interest in signing Batrakov, while Man Utd admire him very much after monitoring his development closely since the summer.
Moreover, Chelsea and Manchester City are also in this race, while Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain have expressed their interest in him. Joining a club like the Blaugrana or Les Parisiens even appeals to him.
The report state that having recently joined Galatasaray, Batrakov still has a contract until 2030. However, he has a £50m release clause, meaning his potential suitors can manage to buy him for a reasonable price.
Battle
Batrakov is a creative midfielder by trait and Man Utd currently have Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount as specialist No.10 options. However, Mount has struggled with fitness problems since joining from Chelsea, while Bruno has entered the final few months of his current contract.
On the other hand, Chelsea currently have Cole Palmer as the specialist CAM option, but Morgan Rogers can provide cover in this position if needed.
Liverpool, meanwhile, decided to reinforce the CAM position by purchasing Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen for a huge fee last year. However, he has failed to flourish in his career at Anfield.
Batrakov is a talented player and possesses high potential. Therefore, he might be a shrewd acquisition for Man Utd, Liverpool or Chelsea should any of those clubs purchase him.
However, it is going to be interesting to see whether the West London club, the Merseyside club or the Old Trafford club eventually make a concrete approach to secure his services.
