Man Utd’s reasoning behind spending more on Caicedo than Mount transfer

Man Utd's Old Trafford in focus

Manchester United are prepared to go for Moises Caicedo amid their Mason Mount transfer struggles, reports say. Erik ten Hag is eager to bring a new midfielder to Old Trafford as he looks to win the Premier League title next season. Any deal for Caicedo won’t be cheap, however.

The Times revealed on Saturday night that Caicedo was now a target for United.

The Red Devils have been priced out of a deal for Mount so far, with Chelsea looking for £58million up front plus £7m in add-ons to sell their academy graduate.

Some fans have wondered why United now chasing a deal for Caicedo given he’d cost even more.

But the report says the Red Devils have two reasons behind their thinking.

One is that Caicedo, at 21, is three years younger than Mount.

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While not a big gap, it means United are willing to go for a player with more potential to evolve in the coming years ahead.

And a second reason they’re switching focus is due to the fact that Caicedo, unlike Mount, hasn’t got just a year left on his contract.

Brighton will want a fee of around £80million to sell Caicedo to United this summer.

And that would make him the joint-third most-expensive signing in the club’s entire history.

Paul Pogba remains their costliest recruit, having set the Red Devils back a massive £89m upon returning from Juventus in 2016.

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United then spent £86m on Antony last summer.

And Harry Maguire cost £80m back in 2019, with the England international touching down from Leicester that year.

Chelsea still seem to be the frontrunners in the race to sign Caicedo.

But the Ecuador international did confess two years ago that his dream was to play for United and follow in the footsteps of Antonio Valencia.

“My dream is to play for Manchester United. Antonio Valencia is an example to follow,” Caicedo told reporters at the time.

“With his strength and dedication, he was able to get to that level.

“That motivates me to keep working hard and do the right things.”

Regarding Mount, meanwhile, Jamie Carragher said last week that United should snub the Chelsea star and hijack Arsenal’s pursuit of Declan Rice instead.

“Mason Mount is an upgrade on [Christian] Eriksen in terms of where he plays,” Carragher told the Metro.

“Going back to Declan Rice, United are one of the few teams at the top who don’t play 4-3-3. It’s usually two midfielders with Bruno Fernandes.

“Declan Rice and Mason Mount, they are very different players and it shouldn’t be one or the other but when you look at what Manchester United have got right now, I actually think Declan Rice would be a better fit for them. A lot more expensive of course.

“I do think he [Mount] is a good player and I like him, I wanted Liverpool to get him.

“Lots of coaches have picked him and like him. There is already a good player in there but Declan Rice would suit United more than Mason Mount in terms of how they set up.”

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