Manchester United prepared to splash out £60m on England star: report

Manchester United's Dutch manager Erik ten Hag looks on during the English Premier League football match between Newcastle United and Manchester United at St James' Park in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, north east England on December 2, 2023. (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP via Getty Images)
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Manchester United are reportedly lining up a huge £60m move for Crystal Palace and England star Eberechi Eze.

The 25-year-old has previously been linked with the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City, having established himself as one of the Premier League's top attacking midfield talents in recent seasons.

Signed from QPR in 2020, Eze has become hot property at Palace – who tied him down to a new three-and-a-half year contract in November last year.

LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 23: Crystal Palace's Eberechi Eze during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Fulham FC at Selhurst Park on September 23, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Rob Newell - CameraSport via Getty Images)

Eze has scored three goals for Palace so far this season (Image credit: Getty Images)

That doesn't appear to have put Man United off from going after the two-cap England international, though, with Fichajes claiming that the Red Devils are willing to offer £60m to secure his services this summer.

However, that may not be enough: the report adds that Palace value Eze, one of their star men, at closer to £80m.

Only three times have United paid a transfer fee of £80m or higher, last doing so to bring in Antony from Ajax in the summer of 2022.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 30: Eberechi Eze of Crystal Palace during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Crystal Palace at Old Trafford on September 30, 2023 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images)

Eze was part of the Palace side which beat United at Old Trafford in September, setting up the winning goal (Image credit: Getty Images)

It's fair to say that Antony has flopped since his switch to Old Trafford – while Jadon Sancho, a £73m arrival the previous summer, didn't fare much better and, having re-joined Borussia Dortmund on loan until the end of this season, seems to be heading for the exit door on a permanent basis in the near future.

United are still badly in need of that creative spark, then, and Eze could certainly provide it.

Equally adept in a central role or out wide, the one-time Arsenal academy player looks ready to take that next big step in his career.

More transfer stories from FourFourTwo

Erik ten Hag is reportedly keen to bring yet another player from Ajax to Man United this month.

Meanwhile, Arsenal are 'set to beat Barcelona' to one of Europe's hottest midfield properties.

And, elsewhere, Harry Kane and Eric Dier could be joined by one more former Tottenham and England teammate at Bayern Munich.

Tom Hancock

Tom Hancock started freelancing for FourFourTwo in April 2019 and has also written for the Premier League and Opta Analyst, among others. He supports Wycombe Wanderers and has a soft spot for Wealdstone. A self-confessed statto, he has been known to watch football with a spreadsheet (or several) open...