Manchester United linked with €45m move for Bologna winger Jonathan Rowe
Manchester United are among a host of Premier League clubs monitoring Bologna winger Jonathan Rowe, with the Italian side valuing the 22-year-old at €45 million. According to Gazzetta dello Sport, scouts from at least three unnamed English top-flight teams were in attendance to watch Rowe's standout performance in Bologna's 3-1 Europa League defeat to Aston Villa last Thursday. The club, however, are reportedly reluctant to sell the player this summer.
Rowe scored a late consolation goal and was a constant threat against Villa, successfully completing four dribbles and forcing a fine save from goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez. His display continued a strong European campaign, where he has now contributed four goals and two assists. While his overall season statistics of seven goals and four assists in Serie A are modest, his underlying potential and recent development have attracted significant attention.
Jonathan Rowe's career path is unconventional for an English talent. After breaking through at Norwich City and scoring 12 Championship goals in the 2023-24 season, he opted for a move abroad, joining Marseille. His time in France was curtailed after a dressing-room incident with teammate Adrien Rabiot led to his sale. Bologna secured his services for €17 million last summer, making him their third-most expensive signing ever.
Data analytics firm SciSports notes that Rowe's performance metrics place him among the top wingers in Serie A and the Europa League this term, with his SciSkill rating showing steady improvement. His Estimated Transfer Value is currently assessed at €18.2 million, a figure far below Bologna's reported asking price. SciSports' Club Fit analysis suggests a move to Napoli would be his ideal sporting fit, but among Premier League options, Leeds United and Nottingham Forest score highest, followed by Manchester United with a rating of 81.
The interest from Manchester United aligns with their known search for reinforcements on the left wing. Rowe would represent a younger, less expensive alternative to other reported targets. Unai Emery, the Aston Villa manager, acknowledged Rowe's growing influence after the recent match, stating the winger was "playing progressively better this season" and proved more troublesome than anticipated. For Rowe, a transfer would mark a return to English football after a formative period abroad, offering a chance to establish himself in the Premier League after only 208 minutes of prior experience with Norwich.
