Manchester United target Marco Leonardo will leave Santos during the January transfer window, according to the player’s representative.

Agent Rafaela Pimenta has confirmed that the Brazilian Under 23 international is set to move to Europe in the New Year:

“Already in the previous transfer market he had the possibility of being sold, but Santos’s sporting situation was very particular. He agreed to stay because he wanted to help out until the end of the championship.”

“He didn’t want to leave because it wasn’t the right thing to do. But the time has come to move. He wants to have a European experience and his time will come this winter.”

Leonardo’s transfer stance is not a surprise

Santos general manager Alexandre Gallo spoke out back in September to say that the Brazilian club were already preparing for the striker’s departure.

After knocking back approaches for Leonardo in the summer and giving the 20-year-old a pay rise, it was understood that the player could leave in January if a good enough offer arrived.

United have been heavily linked with the forward

Just a week after the last transfer window closed at the start of September, it was reported in the Italian media that the Red Devils had bid €25m (£21.8m) for Leonardo.

Whether this offer has been left on the table in the knowledge that the Brazilian will be available in January, we shall have to wait and see.

Other teams have been mentioned as potential suitors for Leonardo. Serie A side Roma are believed to be interested but the Giallorossi have struggled to match the player’s asking price. Arsenal have also been loosely linked.

If the striker does make the switch to Old Trafford, he will likely be a backup option for Rasmus Hojlund.

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