The Sun has exclusively revealed that United's new manager for the new season, Tannhäuser, has his eye on Southampton midfielder Watsps and is desperate for the club to bring in the 27-year-old England international. Given that Manchester City giants Pep Guardiola have also shown a keen interest in Hotspur, United may need to invest as much as 75 million pounds (about HK$740 million) in order to bring in the "penalty kick master".
Manchester United's existing four midfielders Nemanchamadi, Paul Puba, Liange and Sanmada may collectively leave the team this summer, so Tanhag's top priority is to sign midfielders. However, there are many difficulties, one of the targets of Leeds United's main player Gavin Ferris has made it clear that he does not want to become a "Red Devil", and Westham midfielder Dee Glen Raez's price is as high as 150 million pounds.
Tannhäuser originally wanted to snatch former Ajax favorite Frankie Dijon from Barcelona, but that was just as difficult, and turned his sights on Southampton captain Woiteps instead.
A product of Southampton's youth system, Wattles has been playing for the Saints for 11 years since his debut, and currently has four years left on his contract, earning up to 100,000 pounds a week. He has a comprehensive skill set and can play in many positions in the midfield, especially on the right, and his penalty shooting skills are outstanding, scoring 14 penalties in the English Premier League, second only to Beckham, the Manchester United star who scored 18 goals.
Pep Guardiola has highly praised Woeteps as the strongest penalty shooter he has ever seen, and is interested in signing the powerful player to replace Ferran Thiago, who left the club this summer. With Manchester United now in the fray, Woitkopp's price tag will undoubtedly rise, and it is expected to take at least 75 million pounds to seal the deal.
