United launch shock raid for “untouchable” Inter Milan forward after electric season in Italy – report

Manchester United have reportedly made an approach to sign Inter Milan striker Pio Esposito – but have been met with an immediate response by the Italian giant.

Serie A’s Starlet

Despite only being 20, Esposito already possesses an imposing 6’3 frame with the athleticism and power to trouble even the most experienced of defenders in Serie A.

Inter consider the centre-forward, who made his debut for Italy last year, one of the best products from their academy in years. The Naples native joined the Nerazzurri as a nine-year-old, quickly rising through the ranks as an attacking midfielder before developing into an out-and-out number nine.

Esposito spent two seasons on loan at Spezia Calcio, scoring 22 goals for the Serie B side in his first foray into men’s football. Since returning to the San Siro last summer, where he was made a part of Inter’s squad for the Club World Cup in America, he has gone on to become a regular in Christian Chivu’s squad.

Across 35 games this season, the Italian has returned seven goals and six assists. He has scored three times in just five appearances for the national side as well.

Esposito’s profile – a tall, old-school number nine with a well-rounded skillset, capable of providing as well as scoring – is an enticing one for Premier League sides, given the dearth of centre-forwards in modern football.

United’s last two attacking recruits from Serie A, Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund, have proven disastrous signings, given neither was able to contend with the physicality of English football.

Hojlund has since returned to Italy, joining Napoli on a season-long loan with a buy-option that the Scudetto winners are intent on triggering, while Zirkzee also looks set to head back to Serie A this summer with Juventus and AS Roma interested in the Dutchman.

This will leave Benjamin Sesko as the sole frontman in United’s squad, which explains why the Red Devils made an approach to sign Esposito this summer, as per online polls