Report: Manchester United monitoring Federico Valverde

Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde has reportedly been identified by Manchester United as a replacement for Paul Pogba.

The Red Devils are believed to have started drawing up a shortlist of possible options in preparation for Pogba's possible departure, with Madrid one of the frontrunners to land the Frenchman.

According to The Sun, Valverde is one of those United are keeping a close eye on ahead of the summer transfer window.

Uruguay international Valverde still has four years to run on his £120,000-a-week Madrid contract, which is said to contain a £148m buyout clause.

United have no intention of spending that much on the box-to-box midfielder, but the report indicates that a possible player-plus-cash deal involving Pogba is a possibility.