MANCHESTER UNITED and Arsenal are in a tug-of-war over £40m-rated Parma playmaker Dejan Kulusevski.
The 19-year-old Swedish midfielder, who struggled to make an impact at Atalanta last term, has been shining in Serie A since he switched on loan to Parma in the summer.
Manchester United have joined Arsenal in the £40m pursuit of on-loan Parma playmaker Dejan Kulusevski
And now United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has added the midfielder to his growing list of reinforcements to get the Red Devils back in the Champions League spots.
The Norwegian has already been linked with moves for RB Salzburg striker Erling Haaland, with Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale and Leicester’s Marcus Maddison among his eight-man hitlist.
But Gunners boss Unai Emery is also in dire need of reinforcements.
Midfield is one of his key areas, with former captain Granit Xhaka expected to leave in the January window, with his old club Borussia Monchengladbach the latest linked with a 2020 switch back to the Bundesliga.
The Londoners have just one win in seven and the January window could be Spaniard Emery’s last throw of the dice.
Kulusevski has made 13 appearances for Parma this term, scoring twice with five assists.
They have been the surprise package in Serie A, climbing to eighth and just seven points off the play-off places.
Parma have the second highest stats for the amount of running from players during a game in the Italian top flight.
It is Kulusevski’s creative ability plus that work ethic which has convinced both Solskjaer and Emery to target the player.
But the player said: “I’m fine at Parma, I’m happy to be here, I’ve found the perfect club.
“The market? I’m playing well, so it’s normal to write about other clubs, but I don’t think about (a January move) because I have an annual deal with Parma.”
However, United and the Gunners have money to burn in order to snap him up.
Inter Milan remain the favourites for the Swede’s signature.
They can offer Italy forward Matteo Politanio in exchange to tempt Champions League qualifiers Atalanta.
Southampton also want the teenager.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
