Manchester United weigh move for Bologna forward Jonathan Rowe in £34m deal

Manchester United are considering a move for Bologna forward Jonathan Rowe as they assess late options to strengthen their attack before the end of the summer transfer window.

The Premier League club have been monitoring the 23-year-old and are studying the possibility of submitting a formal offer, according to Italian newspaper Corriere di Bologna.

United are looking to add an attacking signing even if Marcus Rashford remains at Old Trafford, with the club’s wider recruitment plan focused on reshaping the forward line ahead of next season.

Rowe, who can operate across the front line and has frequently featured from the left, is under contract at Bologna for another three years, but reports in Italy indicate he could be allowed to leave in this window.

Bologna are understood to be willing to sell for around €40m (£34m), a fee viewed as relatively modest in the current market. However, signing Rowe is not thought to be at the top of United’s list of priorities at this stage.

United’s transfer priorities

With Rashford now increasingly likely to stay, United’s need for another left-sided attacker has eased, and the club are instead focused on recruiting a centre-forward to compete with Benjamin Sesko.

A defensive midfielder and a left-back are also viewed within the club as key areas to address before the deadline.

United are additionally planning to send both Joshua Zirkzee and Chido Obi out on loan before the window closes, in order to secure regular first-team football for the pair.

Rowe’s path from Norwich to Serie A

Rowe came through the academy at Norwich City, progressing through the youth ranks before making his first-team debut in 2021.

He went on to make 56 senior appearances for Norwich, scoring 13 goals and providing five assists in all competitions for the club.

The forward joined Marseille on loan for the 2024-25 season and did enough during that spell for the move to be made permanent in the summer of 2025.

However, his time at Marseille ended abruptly a few months later. Rowe was placed on the club’s list of departures in August 2025 alongside Adrien Rabiot following a dispute between the pair, and he left for Bologna before the close of that transfer window.

Impact at Bologna and earlier interest

Rowe featured regularly for Bologna during the 2025-26 campaign, making 43 appearances in all competitions. He scored eight goals and provided five assists across the season.

His performances in Serie A have drawn interest from the Premier League, with Everton previously linked with a move for the Englishman earlier in the summer.

United’s arrival in the race has shifted the dynamic around his future, but there is no indication yet that an official bid has been lodged, and internal debate remains over whether to commit a significant portion of the remaining budget to a wide forward rather than to more pressing positions.

For now, Rowe remains a Bologna player with several years left on his deal, while United continue to explore their options in the final weeks of the window.