Manchester United and Chelsea Target Martin Baturina from Como
Manchester United and Chelsea are circling one of Serie A’s sharpest new blades – but prising Martin Baturina out of Como will not be straightforward.
The 23-year-old Croatian playmaker has forced his way onto the radar of two of England’s biggest clubs, with both United and Chelsea understood to have opened direct lines of communication with Como over a potential deal. The interest is not casual. It’s calculated.
United’s crisis, Baturina’s rise
United head towards the January window in a state they never imagined: glancing nervously over their shoulder at the relegation zone and bracing for a rebuild under Mauricio Pochettino before he has even taken charge.
A summer spent heavily on midfield has left the rest of the squad lopsided. Left-back, centre-back, left wing, centre-forward – too many weak spots, not enough solutions. Michael Carrick, now gone, was not given the backing he needed. Pochettino will inherit the consequences.
The club’s recruitment plan for January and next summer is expected to lean heavily towards defenders. Yet Baturina has cut through that defensive agenda with the most persuasive argument of all: performances.
He started in Como’s stunning 4-1 win over United last month, a result that crystallised just how far the Premier League giants have fallen and how far Baturina has come. Across all competitions this season, he has five goals and two assists from 14 appearances, operating as an attacking midfielder with the versatility to drift and damage from multiple positions.
Inside Italy, he’s being spoken about as one of Serie A’s most exciting emerging talents. Outside it, clubs with heavyweight budgets are starting to test Como’s resolve.
An €80m talent and a €20m problem
According to The Daily Briefing, both United and Chelsea have “communicated” their desire to sign Baturina and begun early talks with Como. The outlines of a deal are already being sketched: a fee in the region of €80m (around £67m) is believed to be enough to get it done.
That, however, is only half the story.
Baturina is not agitating for a move. Those close to the situation describe a player with firm confidence in his own ability and a clear ambition to play at the highest level, but not one banging on the door to get out. Como, for their part, are open to selling – at the right price.
A source quoted by the outlet underlined both the admiration and the impasse: Baturina is “well-liked by the recruitment staff of Chelsea and Man United”, with both clubs having “been pushing for this deal for a while”. Early discussions have taken place, but there is “at least a €20m gap in valuation between the parties at the moment”.
In other words: everyone likes the idea. No one yet likes the numbers.
Pochettino’s dilemma
For United, the chase for Baturina sits against a harsher backdrop. They are not one marquee signing away from a title tilt; they are several hard windows away from stability. That reality is not lost on Gary Neville.
Speaking on The Overlap, the former United captain laid out what he believes Pochettino must demand from the club’s hierarchy.
“If I was Mauricio Pochettino now, I would be literally protecting myself up to the high heaven. He’ll do that with a payoff, so do that in your contract,” Neville said, before turning to the squad.
“But secondly, he needs two defenders in January. So he’s got to insist that he gets two defenders in January.
“He’s got to insist that he gets a minimum budget next summer for the transfer window to be able to turn this around. He’s got to insist that he gets a budget that follows.”
The message is blunt. United cannot afford another window where the headline is a glamour signing while the back line creaks and cracks.
So the question is obvious: can they seriously chase an €80m attacking midfielder while also delivering the two defenders Neville believes are non-negotiable? Or does Baturina become the kind of opportunity they admire from distance but ultimately leave for someone else to take?
Chelsea in the wings
Chelsea’s presence complicates everything. Their recruitment department, already aggressive in targeting young, high-ceiling talent, is also pushing for Baturina. The London club have made a habit of outmuscling rivals for players in recent windows, even if their sprawling squad raises its own questions.
Both clubs sense Como will sell. Both know the player wants to climb. The issue now is who blinks first on the fee – and whether United, with a defence to fix and a new manager to arm, can justify going all in on a playmaker when their house is still on fire.
Baturina has already punished United once this season. The next time his name is on a teamsheet in England, will it be as their tormentor again – or their attempted solution?
