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Manchester United feel the Saudi Pro League is inflating transfer fees as they look to sign a new striker this summer, reports say. Erik ten Hag has brought Mason Mount to Old Trafford already. But the Dutchman is also hoping to reinforce other areas of his squad as he looks to win the Premier League title at the second time of asking next season.
Manchester United signed Mount from Chelsea at the beginning of the month, with the 24-year-old moving in a huge £55million deal.
But Ten Hag wants more arrivals as he looks to stop Manchester City from claiming more glory next term.
United want to bring in Andre Onana from Inter Milan, while Rasmus Hojlund is another player under consideration.
And The Independent say the club feel the Saudi Pro League is ‘inflating fees and affecting plans’.
They believe the transfer market is ‘currently blocked’, while they also think there is an ‘ongoing stand-off in the highly competitive No 9 market’.
The Saudi Pro League has certainly been happy to splash the cash this summer.
Buoyed after bringing in Cristiano Ronaldo in November, the rest of the division is looking to acquire marquee names.
Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kante will be playing for Al-Ittihad next term, having left Real Madrid and Chelsea respectively.
Ruben Neves has departed Wolves in order to join Al-Hilal, with Kalidou Koulibaly and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic joining him.
Over at Al-Ahli they’ve signed Edouard Mendy, who has left Chelsea after struggling last season, as well as Roberto Firmino.
And Marcelo Brozovic has opted to leave Inter Milan in order to play alongside Ronaldo at Al-Nassr.
Amid United’s desire to bring in a new striker, Gabriel Agbonlahor has opened up on Mason Greenwood.
The England international hasn’t played for the club since January 2022 but is keen to resume his career in football.
There’s been talk of Greenwood potentially joining Atalanta as part of any deal for Hojlund.
And Agbonlahor can’t see the 21-year-old playing for United again.
“I don’t think he will play in the Premier League again,” he said.
“I think his reputation is damaged at Manchester United and England, I do think he will play on again in a different country, a different league.
“And that’s down to them clubs, their managers and their owners if they decide to sign Mason Greenwood.
“But I do feel living in England, being at football games, seeing what fans are like at games, I can’t see him going out there and playing for Manchester United again.”
He continued: “I think for the owners as well, he’s an asset, he’s probably an £80million asset.
“A very good player, talented, 21, what are they saying about it? Do they want to sell their asset?
“It’s definitely something difficult to talk about, but for me, I can’t see in the next couple of years, him playing in the Premier League, I just can’t see it.”
