Man Utd and Arsenal locked in transfer fight to sign the ‘next R9’ as Premier League clubs stay alert
Manchester United and Arsenal are both going after one of Europe’s most exciting young centre-forwards as the transfer window nears its end.
This summer has been busy for many Premier League teams, with managers Michael Carrick and Mikel Arteta strengthening their squads. United got off to a fast start by signing Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos from Aston Villa and Chelsea, and they also brought in goalkeeper Karl Darlow on a free transfer from Leeds United.
Carrick is still looking to add a left-back, a central midfielder, and a left-sided forward over the next couple of weeks to get ready for their return to the Champions League.
Arsenal, meanwhile, have made three signings, including exciting deals for Newcastle midfielder Bruno Guimaraes and Club Brugge winger Christos Tzolis. Arteta has clearly been fine-tuning his team, but the Gunners may not be done yet. They’re in the race with Manchester United to sign Shakhtar Donetsk’s striker Kaua Elias.
On August 6, The Sun reported that scouts from both clubs watched Elias play in Shakhtar’s 5-1 win against Kudrivka in the Ukrainian Premier League. The 20-year-old Brazilian star scored a perfect hat-trick in that game, showing off his amazing potential.
TEAMtalk says the quick and skilled forward is worth about £30 million, and Arsenal’s interest has “intensified” recently. The two Premier League clubs are seen as the main serious buyers, even with big European clubs like AC Milan and Porto keeping a close eye on him.
Shakhtar want teams to meet their £30 million price in full before they will even think about selling, and since Elias is under contract until December 2029, there’s no rush for them to let him go. Still, the battle between Arsenal and United for Elias could be one of the most thrilling transfer stories in the last two weeks of the window.
Elias joined Shakhtar last February from Fluminense for about £14.5 million and quickly showed why he was worth that fee. He’s strong in the air, calm in front of goal, and can score with both feet, making him a very well-rounded forward.
Both Arsenal and Manchester United saw everything they hoped for when they watched him play in person. The young Brazilian has even compared himself to Ronaldo, one of the greatest Brazilian strikers ever.
When asked about the similarities to his two heroes, Neymar and Ronaldo, Elias said he felt more like Ronaldo because of his speed, dribbling, and finishing skills. “Neymar has been my idol since he played in Brazil and then Europe. But we play different positions,” Elias told AS in October 2024. “They are the two best players I’ve ever seen.”
If either Arsenal or Man United manage to sign him before the September 1 deadline, fans will get to see his amazing talent shine in English football.