Manchester United Transfer News: Andre Silva Interest Reported, Latest Rumours

Manchester United have reportedly joined the battle to land Porto’s star striker Andre Silva, who is said to be valued at a whopping €60 million (£52 million) by his club. 

That’s according to Duncan Castles of the Daily Record, who stated the 21-year-old has also caught the attention of Barcelona, Real Madrid and Manchester City. United are said to have "expressed a strong interest" in the player, too.

Indeed, Silva has flourished this season at the point of the attack for both club and country. Here is a look at some of his best moments from 2016-17 so far:

The rapid progress Silva has made is all the more impressive due to the fact that he only made his senior debut for Porto last season, netting 14 league goals in the process. Now he looks at home in the Portuguese top flight, in the UEFA Champions League and on the international stage, too.

As noted recently by Squawka Football, his record in the early stages of the season makes for impressive reading:

While Silva’s goalscoring exploits are a testament to his finishing ability, the youngster is more than just a poacher. Indeed, he’s adept at leading the line and playing as a split centre-forward, boasting technical ability and an eye for a pass as well as razor-sharp instincts in front of goal. Given his versatility, it’s no surprise to see elite sides linked.

United may need to add to their options up top in the coming transfer windows, too, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the twilight of his career and Wayne Rooney past his best.

At 21, Silva could be a building block at Old Trafford and a striker that could form a tremendous partnership with Marcus Rashford. However, before spending so much money on the youngster, any buyer would surely be keen to see Silva showcase these impeccable standards for a little longer yet.

Ivan Rakitic Dismisses Speculation

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The agent for Barcelona's Ivan Rakitic has played down speculation linking the midfielder with a move away from the club, with Manchester United previously said to be keen.

“Ivan is very happy at FC Barcelona, where he has been tremendously successful and has a contract with the club until 2019,” said Arturo Canales, per Rob Dawson of the Manchester Evening News. As noted by Dawson, the 28-year-old has been linked with the Red Devils recently.

Since moving to Barcelona in the summer of 2014, Rakitic has become a linchpin in the team’s midfield. Here is a look at what he brings to the La Liga champions:

If United could get him, it’d be a major coup. The Croatia international is so elegant in possession, able to slalom through challenges and find opponents with delicate passes. But there’s a rugged side to Rakitic’s game that makes him so unique; the playmaker enjoys physical battles and is energetic in his defensive duties.

According to AS, Rakitic is keen to extend his stay with Barcelona beyond 2019 despite the admiring glances of other big-name clubs on the continent. While he may not be Barca’s biggest star, the blend of attributes the midfielder brings to the XI means the Blaugrana will surely be happy to keep him around for a while yet.