Manchester United are not only after Paulo Dybala from Juventus but have also enquired about Mario Mandzukic, according to reports in Italy.
With the Croatian being 33 years old, it would be a massive surprise if the Red Devils were considering a move for the striker, and most fans on Twitter are highly sceptical about the story:
Why the hell would Ole want Mandzukic?? 33? Slow? Not interchangable? Worse than Lukaku? Would just take gametime off the youth
— Charlie mcmanus (@Charlie_Mc_NBA) 1 August 2019
Makes no sense. Would love to know how this would work!!
— Chris Wright (@ckaspa) 1 August 2019
Mandžukić is 33. Not happening. Next…??
— Trequartista™️? (@grant_robbins) 1 August 2019
We don’t need him please!
— Prettygirlswag (@IceTwitts) 1 August 2019
Can someone explain please
— haych_manutd (@Muhamma21011052) 1 August 2019
I guess he can be a decent backup but he isn’t great and doesn’t fit how we play. An option I guess
— Joe-B (@Joe___________B) 1 August 2019
I cant believe what im seeing
— ? (@JJUtd9) 1 August 2019
Dybala says no and we get Mario instead. And that’s it. Can he play CB?
— JonBonNobody (@JamesMorgan1978) 2 August 2019
We've been signing players we don't need for 6yrs, why stop now?
— Adrian Van Aalst (@AdrianVanAalst) 1 August 2019
Don’t need him
— Dan Roalf (@RoalfDan) 2 August 2019
You could argue that Mandzukic could be a direct replacement for Romelu Lukaku as a backup forward with Paulo Dybala being used as a first-team regular.
Even so, manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has focused his recruitment efforts this summer on signing young talent, and this would not fit into that strategy.
Especially as reports in the Italian press suggest Juve would want €15m (£13.7m), it looks like a complete non-starter. Stranger things have happened in past transfer windows but signing Mandzukic would be a massive surprise considering how the club have gone about their business so far this summer.
