Transfer Speculation: Takayuki Morimoto (Catania) to Manchester United
Manchester United are keen on signing Japanese striker Takayuki Morimoto, 21, who is currently playing for Catania in Italy according to yesterday's 'hotline' in The People.
Several years after clubs stopped signing players for purely commercial reasons (although doubts persist as to the Dong Fangzhuo deal) The People insisted that this would enable United to dominate the lucrative blah blah blah market.
Perhaps instead Morimoto has some ability; 15 goals in 58 games for Catania in Italy is not a bad strike rate especially with Catania struggling to avoid relegation. Milan's Pato was recently quoted as saying that he is the best young player in Italy and very reminiscent of the Brazilian Ronaldo in terms of size, speed and directness.
At the end of last season Pato was asked by Corriere dello Sport:
"Secondo lei qual è stato il giovane più interessante di quello che sta per finire?"
And his reply:
"Sicuramente il giapponese Morimoto del Catania. Mi ricorda molto nelle movenze e per la... pelata il mio idolo Ronaldo. Infatti lo chiamano il Ronaldo giapponese. Morimoto è molto diverso da me perchè lui gioca più vicino all’area di rigore."
Left little doubt that Pato thought him to be the Japanese Ronaldo.
With Dimitar Berbatov not really kicking on, Michael Owen something of a stopgap and Federico Macheda and Danny Welbeck still being a couple of years away from regular first team football Morimoto may well be the kind of player that United would like. Whether he sells shirts in Asia or not.
Probability 2/5
Is a forward what United need - or are there other areas that need more urgent strengthening? In any event is Morimoto the man?
