The Sun on Sunday tell of Manchester United’s ambitious plans to sign Liverpool icon Luis Suarez from Barcelona in a deal that would blow Paul Pogba’s £89m switch from Juventus out of the water.
It’s reported the Red Devils will offer £135m for the Uruguayan goal machine, who has found the net 14 times in 15 appearances for club and country so far this season.
He’ll be in Manchester this week as Barcelona visit United’s neighbours Manchester City in the Champions League, with a price of 27/20 saying the Catalans take the spoils back to Spain.
If Jose Mourinho’s clan are considering a bid for Suarez, they’re certain to have someone casting their eye over the 29-year-old at the Etihad.
There are plenty of pitfalls involved with making such an exorbitant move for an ageing goalscorer, but United have plenty of previous when it comes to signing the terrace favourites of archrivals that suggests their intentions may be genuine.
Robin van Persie’s arrival from Arsenal is the most recent example. Sir Alex Ferguson sanctioned the signing of the £23m Dutchman, who was 29 by the time his move to Old Trafford was complete.
Yorkshire foes Leeds saw United legend Eric Cantona depart directly for Manchester too. At 26, the Frenchman was in his prime, yet cost a measly £1.2m to prise out of Elland Road.
Michael Owen took a more circuitous route from Liverpool to United, arriving at Old Trafford via Real Madrid and Newcastle.
A prized academy graduate of Liverpool’s, Owen was certainly revered by Reds fans so it obviously stung to see him don the colours of their nemesis, though Suarez committing the same cardinal sin would surely be more painful.
