Manchester United Target Martin Baturina Amid Midfield Rebuild
Manchester United have moved into the chase for Croatia and Como midfielder Martin Baturina, the World Cup breakout who lit up England with a spectacular strike and has already seen a £43 million bid rejected this summer.
Carrick’s midfield rebuild gathers pace
Michael Carrick’s first full summer in charge was always going to revolve around the heart of his team. Casemiro has gone, the spine of the old regime ripped out, and United are pushing to reshape a midfield that has looked tired and predictable for too long.
A deal for Atalanta’s Ederson is close to completion, but United’s plans go well beyond a single signing. With Manuel Ugarte expected to reunite with Ruben Amorim at AC Milan, the Old Trafford hierarchy are pressing on with multiple targets as they look to assemble a more dynamic, flexible engine room.
United have cooled on the idea of going toe-to-toe with Manchester City for Elliot Anderson, while Sandro Tonali is now being steered towards City, Arsenal or an eye-catching move to Tottenham. Interest in West Ham and Portugal midfielder Mateus Fernandes remains live, even with Spurs exploring a late hijack.
Now, though, the spotlight has swung sharply onto Lake Como.
Baturina’s World Cup statement
Martin Baturina, 23, announced himself to a global audience on Wednesday night. With Croatia trailing England, he stepped inside and whipped a vicious, curling effort past Jordan Pickford, a thunderous equaliser that briefly stunned the Three Lions before Gareth Southgate’s side took control in the second half.
It was the kind of goal that sticks with recruitment departments. Technique, confidence, timing – all wrapped into one strike on the biggest stage.
Baturina arrived at Como from Dinamo Zagreb for £22m last summer, a sizeable outlay that now looks like smart business. His first season in Italy has drawn admiring glances from across Europe, with Sky Sports Italy reporting that United and Aston Villa are among a cluster of elite clubs tracking him.
Como dig in as bids arrive
Como’s stance is clear: they are not in the mood to sell easily. The club, with Cesc Fabregas heavily involved in shaping their project, has already turned down a £43m offer for Baturina, while Bayern Munich have also asked about his availability.
The Italian side have every reason to stand firm. Baturina delivered eight goals and four assists in a historic campaign that saw Como qualify for the Champions League for the first time in their history. He was not a luxury piece; he was central to their surge.
His versatility only adds to his appeal. Baturina split his season between attacking midfield and the left flank, drifting into pockets, linking play, and carrying a threat in the final third. That profile fits neatly with what Carrick wants: midfielders who can rotate positions, press aggressively, and still produce numbers.
A solution for United’s left side?
United’s interest is sharpened by the uncertainty around their left wing. The club are preparing for Marcus Rashford’s likely exit and are understood to have reduced the England forward’s asking price to accelerate a sale, despite Rio Ferdinand publicly urging the hierarchy to reconsider.
Losing Rashford would leave a significant gap in goals, pace and identity down that flank. Baturina is not a like-for-like replacement, but his ability to operate off the left or as a No.10 gives Carrick tactical options he currently lacks.
For now, Como are resisting and Baturina’s value is rising with every performance in a Croatia shirt. United know they are not alone in this race, and they know the price will not be gentle.
The question is simple: as the new Carrick era takes shape, is Baturina the statement piece they are prepared to push hardest for?
