Manchester United, Tottenham Scout Nicolo Tresoldi in Club Brugge Trip

Manchester United and Tottenham Both Scout Nicolo Tresoldi in Club Brugge Trip

Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur both sent representatives to Belgium on Tuesday evening to watch Club Brugge forward Nicolo Tresoldi, according to TeamTalk. The 22-year-old German Under-21 international scored from the penalty spot in Brugge's 3-2 defeat to Aston Villa.

Player: Nicolo Tresoldi, 22, Club Brugge forward and German Under-21 international
Clubs watching: Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur
Match: Club Brugge 2-3 Aston Villa, Tuesday evening
Tresoldi's contribution: Scored a penalty
United's extra work: Also continued checks on left-back Joaquin Seys
Linked exit: Joshua Zirkzee's Old Trafford future in doubt

Deal details

No fee has been reported by TeamTalk, and no formal bid has been submitted by either Premier League club. The report states that United previously explored a move for Club Brugge left-back Joaquin Seys during the summer, which points to a broader assessment of the Belgian club's squad.

United's reported position on Joshua Zirkzee is that they will not let the Dutchman leave without first signing a replacement, and Tresoldi is named as a possible candidate for that role. Tresoldi scored 23 goals last season, form which reportedly sparked interest across Europe, with Barcelona among the clubs to hold talks over a potential move. Club Brugge retained him.

What was said

"Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur both had representatives in Belgium on Tuesday evening to watch Club Brugge striker Nicolo Tresoldi"
— TeamTalk, via EPL Index report

"We can confirm Tottenham were also in Belgium to carry out further work on Tresoldi, who remains high on their radar"
— TeamTalk, on Tottenham's interest

Those two lines frame the story: this is a scouting trip, not a negotiation. The first quote confirms the presence of both clubs on the same evening, while the second establishes that Tottenham's visit was not a casual check but a deliberate follow-up on a player they already track seriously.

The report also notes Spurs boss Roberto De Zerbi is looking to reinforce his attacking options, with Tresoldi described as someone who could develop into a strong option for the club. That is a clear statement of intent from the Tottenham side of this race.

The numbers

23 — goals Tresoldi scored last season
22 — Tresoldi's age
2-3 — Club Brugge's defeat to Aston Villa, in which Tresoldi scored a penalty

Why United are looking at a 22-year-old rather than a finished superstar

This is textbook forward planning rather than a panic buy. Nicolo Tresoldi does not arrive with the noise of a proven elite goalscorer, but a player who scored 23 goals last season and drew interest from Barcelona is exactly the profile United should be studying before the wider market pushes his valuation higher.

The Joshua Zirkzee situation sharpens the logic. If United genuinely will not sanction an exit for the Dutchman until a replacement arrives, then the scouting department needs to be certain about the next option in the chain. Sending representatives to watch Tresoldi live, in a competitive Champions League fixture against Aston Villa rather than on video, is the correct way to build that certainty.

The presence of Joaquin Seys in the same trip also matters. United explored the left-back in the summer, so combining the two assignments suggests a joined-up recruitment approach rather than opportunistic attendance. For Tottenham, De Zerbi wanting a more flexible attacking option points to a different tactical need, but it creates direct competition for the same player.

Talking points

Is a 22-year-old with one strong goalscoring season in Belgium really enough to justify a major United outlay, or does the recruitment model demand more proof?
Tottenham already have attacking options, so would Tresoldi actually play under De Zerbi or would he be another squad filler?
United's refusal to sell Zirkzee without a replacement risks leaving them short if the Tresoldi deal cannot be done.
Both clubs watching the same player on the same night suggests the scouting market at this level is tighter and more competitive than ever.

What happens next

No bid has been made, so the immediate next step is continued monitoring. United must resolve the Zirkzee situation before any forward move can be sanctioned, while Tottenham's De Zerbi has made clear he wants attacking reinforcement. Club Brugge have no pressure to sell, having already kept Tresoldi through previous interest from Barcelona, so any deal would require a significant offer to materialise.

Frequently asked questions

Are Manchester United signing Nicolo Tresoldi?

Not yet. United only sent representatives to watch him play for Club Brugge on Tuesday, and no bid or agreement has been reported.

Which clubs are interested in Nicolo Tresoldi?

Manchester United and Tottenham both sent representatives to watch him on Tuesday evening, while Barcelona were among the clubs to hold talks over a potential move in the past.