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Atletico Madrid and Manchester United are ready to battle each other for the signature of Inter Milan midfielder Davide Frattesi. The Red Devils are ready to shift their attention to midfield as they continue their squad overhaul plan this summer.
United’s vulnerability in all areas of the pitch last season forced their fans to endure a horrible Premier League season. As they finished 16th in the Premier League, the problems escalated when the Red Devils lost the Europa League final.
Without the European fixture next season, United have shifted their focus to signing quality over quantity while selling their surplus. United boss Ruben Amorim needs players who will suit his tactical style of play after the current squad failed miserably.
The Red Devils have prioritised the attacking department earlier this summer by signing Matheus Cunha and targeting Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo. The midfield department remains a big area of concern amid the failure of signings like Mason Mount and Manuel Ugarte.
Meanwhile, Christian Eriksen will depart as a free agent, while the future of Kobbie Mainoo remains uncertain at the moment. The same goes for Casemiro, who has drastically regressed as a reliable midfielder since joining the club from Real Madrid.
Only Bruno Fernandes remains a certain starter under Amorim, after deciding to stay at United despite a massive Saudi offer. According to Fichajes, United are ready to battle Atletico to sign Frattesi from Inter and bolster their midfield this summer.
Frattesi joined Inter from Sassuolo permanently in the summer of 2024 for over €31 million after a season-long loan deal. The Italy international played a pivotal role for Inter in their tough journey to the Champions League final last season.
Furthermore, the Italian club narrowly lost the Serie A as Frattesi played a regular role in the midfield. The 25-year-old would fit perfectly in Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 formation, which is similar to what was preferred at Inter. With Inter’s complicated finances, United could exploit the situation and sign a strong, technically gifted box-to-box midfielder in Frattesi this summer.
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With the trade for Ryan McMahon now complete, it would seem New York Yankees’ general manager Brian Cashman has fulfilled one of his three priorities. He can now cross third base off the list, which leaves the rotation and bullpen as his remaining priorities. However, according to one Yankees writer, Cashman might not be done with the infield. Chris Kirschner of The Athletic reported this after the McMahon trade: “The Yankees may not be done adding to their infield. A team source said the Yankees are interested in adding a right-handed hitter who could play the infield.” Kirschner adds that the Yankees have had interest in Willi Castro and Amed Rosario. But the question now is, how would another player fit in the Yankees’ infield? Needless to say, Paul Goldschmidt and Jazz Chisholm Jr. aren’t going anywhere, and McMahon is just getting there. That leaves the low-hanging fruit. Anthony Volpe has been at the center of controversy all this season. His 13 errors, many of which had come at make-or-break moments, amount to the second-highest total in the game. In addition, his bat has not been able to compensate, hitting .214/.286/.407 with 14 home runs. There was always a lot to like about Volpe. He won a Gold Glove in his rookie year, his power has always been promising and his speed is nothing to scoff at. Unfortunately, his glove has become a liability and his speed has also produced very few results. Volpe has swiped just 10 bags in 17 attempts. His power is the one thing that still has some upside, but it hasn’t been enough to justify a spot in the lineup. Both Castro and Rosario have been far more productive at the plate this season than Volpe. Kirschner doesn’t clarify how serious the Yankees are in their pursuit of another infielder, but that most likely isn’t available information. Having just turned 24, Volpe could still become the type of player that was expected from him as a top prospect. However, his recent performance has weighed heavily on his team’s efforts and it may be buying him a ticket out of the Bronx — or at least a spot on the bench.
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Yankees have finally found their third baseman in Ryan McMahon
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