Manchester United have reportedly been one of several top teams keeping tabs on Fulham's Aleksandar Mitrovic, who may have scuppered his chances of a big-money move after his FA Cup outburst.
The Serbia international is finally making a consistent mark in the Premier League after a few hit-and-miss seasons, spearheading Fulham's charge towards an unfancied European place.
Mitrovic has posted 11 goals from 21 Premier League games in the current campaign, as Marco Silva's men sit ninth in the table and just three points adrift of the top six.
However, Mitrovic was involved in an ugly incident with referee Chris Kavanagh during the Cottagers' recent FA Cup quarter-final loss to Man United, who came from behind to win 3-1 at Old Trafford.
The 28-year-old had opened the scoring in the 50th minute, but Bruno Fernandes levelled from the penalty spot following Willian's handball, which led to a red card for the Brazilian.
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In response, an infuriated Mitrovic shoved Kavanagh and was immediately sent off alongside manager Silva, as the nine men of Fulham crashed out in unsavoury circumstances.
With the prospect of a lengthy ban looming, the Daily Star claims that Mitrovic may have ended his hopes of playing for the Red Devils, who have cooled their interest in the wake of the fracas.
The report adds that Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and even Barcelona have been keeping tabs on Mitrovic's glittering campaign, but none of those clubs would have been left impressed with his outburst either.
Following his Old Trafford dismissal, Mitrovic was charged with improper conduct by the FA, who affirmed that the customary three-game ban for such an offence would be insufficient in this instance.
The striker is widely expected to be slapped with an unprecedented 10-game suspension, which would rule him out of the rest of Fulham's Premier League season bar gameweek 38 - ironically another trip to Man United on May 28.
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Mitrovic's absence would be a bitter blow to Fulham's hopes of upsetting the top-six apple cart, with the Serbian now sitting on 108 goals and 23 assists in 202 games for the club since joining from Newcastle United in 2018.
Man United are known to be in the market for a new number nine to succeed Cristiano Ronaldo, who departed over the winter after a scathing attack on the club during an interview with Piers Morgan.
Having failed to bring in a permanent replacement in January, Man United welcomed Wout Weghorst to the club on loan from Burnley, but the Dutchman has not had the desired impact at Old Trafford.
Weghorst has scored just two goals and set up two more in 18 games for the Red Devils, who do not possess an option or obligation to make his stay permanent.
The likes of Victor Osimhen, Harry Kane and Randal Kolo Muani have all been mentioned as summer targets for Man United, with Anthony Martial's long-term future also shrouded in uncertainty.
Ben Knapton
