Man Utd ditch interest in fiery Premier League striker to leave Tottenham, Chelsea in pole position for £30m swoop
Fulham centre-forward Aleksandar Mitrovic will reportedly miss out on a move to Manchester United this summer after receiving a red card for pushing a referee at Old Trafford.
The Red Devils had been considering making a move for the Serbia international, but have been put off after his hot temper was put on display in the FA Cup clash.
However, Tottenham and Chelsea are also interested in making a move for Mitrovic this summer, so United’s decision may inadvertently make a shock move to one of the Cottager’s London rivals more likely.
The 28-yard-old saw red for shoving referee Chris Kavanagh and made matters worse by continuing his aggressive rant at the official, before being dragged away by his teammates.
This came shortly after Fulham winger Willian received a red card for handling the ball on the line – for which he was also dismissed, along with manager Marco Silva, who was also sent to the changing rooms for his protests.
The FA confirmed last week that Mitrovic will serve a longer ban than the usual three games for his straight red and it is possible that he won’t play again this season – which could be a major blow to Fulham’s top-six hopes.
Tottenham and Chelsea still interested in Mitrovic
According to the Daily Star, despite Mitrovic’s aggressive outburst, Tottenham, Chelsea and Barcelona are still interested in making a summer approach for the striker this summer.
Last season, Mitrovic broke the record for the most goals scored in a single Championship campaign, netting an incredible 43 goals in 44 appearances for Fulham as he fired them back into the top flight.
There have previously been questions over whether or not he was good enough for the Premier League, but after scoring 11 in 21 outings this term, the striker has put an end to that debate.
Spurs could be left desperate for a new number nine, with club captain Harry Kane heavily linked with a move to Manchester United. The England international’s future reportedly depends on who Tottenham appoint as their next manager.
On the other hand, Chelsea are also in need of a new centre-forward.
Summer signing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has failed to make an impact at Stamford Bridge, leaving 20-year-old David Datro Fofana and currently injured Armando Broja as their only natural strikers.
With that in mind, we could potentially see a summer bidding war between the two Premier League giants, as well as with Barcelona, for Mitrovic’s signature this summer.
However, with the Serbian’s contract at Craven Cottage valid until 2026, they could reportedly have to pay a fee in the region of £30m for his services.
