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Football

12th Apr 2018

Manchester United hoping to beat Chelsea to £40m Watford star

He had an explosive start to his Premier League career

Reuben Pinder

He hit the ground running in England

José Mourinho loves getting on over on his former employers, so it should come as no surprise that he is likely to compete with Chelsea for their latest transfer target.

Both clubs are reported to be chasing Watford winger Richarlison, who joined the club from Fluminense for £11.8m last summer. The 20-year-old hit the ground running under Marco Silva but his form has tailed off since the Portuguese manager was sacked.

Chelsea have long been the favourites to secure the Brazilian’s signature, as he often socialises with his fellow countrymen David Luiz and Willian. But now the list of potential buyers includes Monaco, PSG and Manchester United, according to The Mirror.

Anthony Martial is reported to be on his way out of Old Trafford, after suffering from a lack of game time due to the amount of competition he faces for a spot in the team from the likes of Juan Mata, Alexis Sánchez, Jesse Lingard and Marcus Rashford. It would therefore make sense for United to sign a winger who might be comfortable with rotation status in the squad.

If Watford receive the £40m asking price they have slapped on the player, it would double their previous record for a fee received for an outgoing player; £20m they got from Changchun Yatai F.C. for Odion Ighalo last January.