Manchester United are reportedly interested in signing Porto striker Samu Aghehowa during this summer’s transfer window.
The 20-year-old made the move to Porto from Atletico Madrid last summer, and he has been in impressive form for the Portuguese club this season, scoring 20 goals and registering three assists in 34 appearances in all competitions.
There is currently a host of speculation surrounding the Spain international’s future, with a number of clubs believed to be keen to sign him this summer, and it is understood that Porto will not let him leave for under €80m (£67m).
However, there is a €100m (£84m) release clause in his agreement, and Porto could point to that figure when they are inevitably approached by clubs to discuss the striker during the summer market.
According to CaughtOffside, Man United are keeping a close eye on Samu, with the youngster being identified as a leading target for the Red Devils ahead of this summer’s transfer window.
Man United ‘keen on summer deal for Samu’
The report claims that Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United are also interested in Samu, who came close to making the move to Chelsea during last summer’s transfer window.
The forward said at the end of last year that he “didn’t feel involved” at Atletico, with the striker leaving Wanda Metropolitano last summer to make the move to Porto, shortly after a potential switch to Chelsea broke down.
“The gold medal [with Spain U23 at the Olympics] wasn’t so bitter,” he told EFE. “But it was a very difficult summer. When I was in Madrid I had a very bad time. In the end, thank God, everything turned out well. If the Chelsea deal didn’t work out it was for a reason and in the end everything turned out well.
“There – at Atletico Madrid – I trained separately. I didn’t feel involved, not like a footballer. I trained and my head told me no. I had a bad time. I cried a lot at night… my family and my mother had a very bad time… In the end, thank God, everything came together quickly and I made the best decision.
“Nobody spoke to me and I didn’t speak to anyone. I was still an Atletico Madrid player, I had to go to training and do my job. I already knew the club’s position. These are things that happen in football and that make you gain experience and learn for the future.”
Would Samu be a good signing for Man United?
Samu had a difficult start to his career, and he was not given the chance to make his mark for Atletico, but there were signs of his quality during a loan spell at Alaves last season, managing eight goals in 34 appearances for the club in La Liga.
The striker has shown his class this term, managing 14 goals and three assists in 22 league appearances, while he struck six times in nine outings in the Europa League before Porto’s elimination.
Samu excelled against Man United in the early stages of the 2024-25 Europa League, scoring twice in a 3-3 draw in Portugal, and he has the potential to be a star in the Premier League in the coming years.
The Red Devils desperately need to bring in a new number nine, but Samu would not come cheap, and it remains to be seen whether the 20-time English champions are prepared to pay out a large amount for the attacker.
Rasmus Hojlund broke his 21-game scoring drought in Man United’s clash with Leicester City before the international break, but the Denmark international has only netted eight times in all competitions this season.
