Manchester United are set to beat Liverpool to the signature of Japanese World Cup star Hinata Miyazawa, according to a report from Liverpool.com.

Previously, Miyazawa had been reported as moving to Liverpool in the summer transfer window, but she is now set to join the Red Devils instead.

Miyazawa was excellent at the World Cup, as she finished the tournament as its top scorer with a tally of five goals in as many games. She played a major role in Japan’s excellent underdog run, as they reached the quarter-finals, where they were defeated by Sweden.

On Liverpool’s pre-season campaign, head coach Matt Beard said: “I think the top teams are very similar in the way that they play. For us just to play against different teams, different players with different personalities, different cultures, it’s good learning for us.”

How will Hinata Miyazawa improve the Manchester United squad?

United suffered a major blow in the summer transfer window when they lost star player Alessia Russo to WSL rivals Arsenal on a free transfer. Bringing in Miyazawa would be an excellent way to plug the gaps that she has left behind.

Not only is the Japanese international an excellent wide player who is a constant goal threat, she’s also relatively young at the age of just 23.

Bringing in a player of Miyazawa’s quality is a testament to the project that is being built at Manchester United. Once major underdogs, they now look like legitimate title contenders after finishing second in the WSL last season. Can they beat out Emma Hayes’ Chelsea in the 2023/24 WSL campaign?

Will this be a blow for Liverpool?

Losing out on such a talented player is never pleasant – especially to one of your greatest rivals. The Reds and United looked relatively evenly-matched last season, but the acquisition of Miyazawa could be what the Red Devils need to leapfrog Liverpool.

As such, the Reds will now need to look elsewhere if they wish to bolster their attacking options. However, it is unlikely that they will be able to find anyone who can match the quality of the Japanese all-star.