Fiorentina midfielder and former Manchester United loanee Sofyan Amrabat is reportedly determined to earn a permanent move to Old Trafford this summer.
The Morocco international - who rose to prominence with his nation at the 2022 World Cup - joined the Red Devils on loan for the 2023-24 campaign, despite reports of interest from Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool.
Amrabat failed to live up to expectations during the early part of his Premier League career but still proved to be an important player for Erik ten Hag, making 30 appearances across all competitions.
The 27-year-old started each of Man United's last three games of the top-flight campaign, and he was also selected over an absent Casemiro from the first whistle in the FA Cup final against Manchester City.
Amrabat played the full 90 minutes as the Red Devils stunned the Premier League champions 2-1 at Wembley, and his end-of-season renaissance has led to speculation that he could make his Old Trafford stay permanent.
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Amrabat 'dreaming' of Man United transfer
However, Amrabat's loan deal expired without the Red Devils triggering their option to sign him permanently, meaning that he is due back at Fiorentina for pre-season training imminently.
Italian outlet Corriere dello Sport - via Sport Witness - claims that the Morocco international is keen to depart Fiorentina permanently, though, and he 'dreams' of representing Man United again.
Amrabat is reportedly optimistic about his chances of re-signing for Man United thanks to Ten Hag's contract extension, as the Dutchman 'bets a lot' on the 2022 World Cup star.
Despite interest from several teams - including some in the Turkish Super Lig - Amrabat has supposedly made it his priority to return to Old Trafford, although Man United must still agree a fee with Fiorentina.
Nevertheless, the report adds that the 20-time English champions have a strong chance of doing so thanks to Ten Hag, and they may need to fork out just €15m (£12.7m) to wrap up a deal.
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Amrabat has just under 12 months left to run on his contract with Fiorentina, whom he has represented on 107 occasions since leaving Hellas Verona in 2020, scoring one goal and setting up one more.
Amrabat to replace Casemiro at Man United?
The 27-year-old potentially heading back to the Theatre of Dreams on a permanent deal could see him succeed the ageing Casemiro, who is thought to be on borrowed time at Old Trafford.
Like Amrabat - who would sometimes have to play left-back last season - Casemiro was shoe-horned into an unfamiliar central defensive role during Man United's injury crisis last term, but his performances took a sharp nosedive.
Casemiro has reported back to Carrington for pre-season training but is still being heavily linked with a departure, and Amrabat would represent a relatively cheap replacement compared to some of Man United's other targets.
The Red Devils are also thought to be looking at Paris Saint-Germain's Manuel Ugarte, Bayern Munich's Joshua Kimmich and Benfica's Joao Neves in the defensive midfield area, but all three would cost at least three times Amrabat's purported £12.7m asking price.
Ben Knapton
