Manchester United have been handed a major boost in their pursuit of reported transfer target Marcus Thuram, who is attracting interest from a plethora of clubs…

What’s the word?

The desire for a new talismanic attacker at Old Trafford has been at the forefront of transfer attention for some time now, magnified by the rancorous departure of the legendary Cristiano Ronaldo last month. 

Italian reporter Rudy Galetti stated recently (via Manchester Evening News) that the Red Devils have been weighing up a move for the French ace, whose contract with Borussia Monchengladbach will expire at the end of the campaign. 

Sport Bild have now claimed (via The Sun) that United manager Erik ten Hag has maintained interest in bringing the 25-year-old to the Premier League, with the winter transfer window less than two weeks away from opening.

“Beast” available for a bargain

United have shown promising signs of resilience following the appointment of Ten Hag from AFC Ajax, but the Manchester club remain outside the pantheon of Europe’s very best. 

The addition of a talented, dynamic striker - i.e. someone in Thuram’s mould - could spark a shift in the momentum and propel the club right to the very top of the Premier League. The Theatre of Dreams will also prepare for a massive Europa League knockout clash against Barcelona in February.

Signing Thuram would be a massive coup for whichever club lands him, with his contract situation meaning that he is available for a mere £9.6m.

Sport Bild have also stated that the Foals have already initiated the process of identifying a replacement, and a January move could become a concrete prospect for the Old Trafford club.

The “beast” (as dubbed by Atul Kasbekar) could bring a talismanic aura to Manchester and provide clinical prowess to lift the Red Devils above their current standing of fifth in the Premier League table, albeit just three points behind fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur and with a game in hand. 

The nine-cap ace has netted 13 goals and supplied four assists from only 17 appearances for Gladback this term, casting aside the cobwebs of an injury-plagued 2021/22 which saw him score just three times. 

Blessed with blistering pace and fierce physicality, the 25-year-old has assumed a versatile role throughout his career but has slowly crept toward a central standing within the front three, now playing as an out-and-out forward with regularity.

Nonetheless, his dynamism could be an arresting factor when it comes to Ten Hag’s decision, with his flexibility likely to sway the winds in his favour, coupled with the cut-price fee. 

As per FBRef, Thuram ranks within the top 7% for non-penalty goals and 5% for dribbles completed when compared to forwards across Europe’s top five leagues in 2022, an indication of the prolific edge and fluidity that he would bring to the United frontline.

Considering the low price, his adaptability and an ever-increasing thirst for goals, Thuram would be a sterling addition at Old Trafford, and Ten Hag must indeed make his move before losing him to a rival suitor.