Aston Villa, Newcastle & Tottenham transfer blow as Man Utd ‘enter race’ for Ronaldo replacement

Manchester United have joined Aston Villa, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur in the race for an in-form Bundesliga striker.
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Aston Villa have been dealt a potential blow as Manchester United are reportedly interested in signing one of Unai Emery’s transfer targets. Borussia Mönchengladbach forward Marcus Thuram, who is also wanted by Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur, is said to be on the Red Devils’ radar.

Thuram has been in fine form in the Bundesliga this season, with 10 goals and three assists in 15 appearances. He is the second top scorer in the entire division, level with Niclas Fullkrug of Freiburg. Only RB Leipzig’s Christopher Nkunku, with 12, has netted on more occasions than the pair this term.

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As Thuram’s contract expires at the end of the current campaign, Mönchengladbach are willing to sell the French international for around €10 million (£8.6 million), according to French journalist Ignazio Genuardi, via Sport Witness. This, as reported by Rudy Galetti, has caught the attention of United as they look for a Cristiano Ronaldo replacement.

Thuram, who has played five times for the French national team and is currently part of the squad in Qatar, would add competition to the forward line if he went to Villa Park instead - pushing the likes of Ollie Watkins and Danny Ings to their limits. At just 25 years of age, Thuram is heading into his prime and could perhaps help the Lions move toward their goal of playing in Europe.

But having yet another club rivaling Villa for Thuram’s signature could make signing him rather difficult, especially with the pull of a club as big as Manchester United. Just being mentioned as the replacement of a player of the quality of Cristiano Ronaldo is likely to draw someone in, so Emery and the board would have to do very well in negotiations if United did push.

Aston Villa will have to shrug off Manchester United, Newcastle and Tottenham if they want to sign Marcus Thuram.Aston Villa will have to shrug off Manchester United, Newcastle and Tottenham if they want to sign Marcus Thuram.
Aston Villa will have to shrug off Manchester United, Newcastle and Tottenham if they want to sign Marcus Thuram.

Since signing for Mönchengladbach from EA Guingamp in 2018, Thuram has played one season each in the Europa League and Champions League. The striker has scored four goals and contributed five assists in 14 appearances across the two competitions, so he is no stranger to performing at a continental level. He now also has experience playing in a World Cup, having come off the bench in France’s 4-1 win over Australia.

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