Manchester United have reportedly opened talks with Velez Sarsfield midfielder Thiago Almada regarding a possible move to Old Trafford.
United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward have made the signing of a new midfielder one of their priorities for the next transfer window, with Jack Grealish, James Maddison and Adrien Rabiot among the names on their wish list.
Italian outlet Tuttomercatoweb reports that they have also set their sights on a cheaper option and are already in contact with Almada, who has previously been linked with Manchester City and Atletico Madrid.
The 19-year-old has impressed since breaking into the Velez first team, scoring nine goals and registering four assists in 46 appearances since his 2018 debut.
Almada is understood to have a release clause of around £22m in his current contract, but United are keen to lower that fee to around £16m.
The Argentine, who plays primarily as an attacking midfielder but can also play on the wing, fits in with the club's new philosophy of targeting younger players rather than more expensive established stars.
Barney Corkhill
