MANCHESTER UNITED are lining up a transfer for one of Rasmus Hojlund’s former team-mates, according to reports.
The Red Devils are likely to be after a new midfielder in the summer, with 32-year-old Casemiro set to be flogged by Man Utd transfer chiefs.
Their search for a replacement has reportedly landed them on Atalanta star Teun Koopmeiners.
The 26-year-old revealed to De Telegraaf he has informed the Serie A outfit he wants to leave the club and hinted at where he would like his future to lie.
He said: “I told Atalanta I want to leave in the summer.
“Last season, there was concrete interest from Napoli, but the two clubs didn’t reach an agreement.
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“I hope there will be options to consider this year. My girlfriend and I are enjoying Italy, but I would endure rain for some clubs in England.
“I’d lie if I said I have no news of interest from Juventus and Premier League clubs.
“I read the news, too. I’ve had an amazing time at Atalanta, and I hope they will get a big sum.
According to Gazzetta Dello Sport that sum is said to be to the tune of £51million.
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And the Italian outlet claim one party interested in a deal is Man Utd.
The report says the Red Devils have accelerated their interest since January, with the club also believing they are in pole position to secure his signature.
That is despite rival transfer interest from heavy-hitters Liverpool and Juventus.
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Their confidence stems from their strong relationship with the Bergamo club, having struck big money deals for Hojlund and FA Cup hero Amad Diallo in recent seasons.
Diallo, 21, joined Man Utd from Atalanta in 2021 in a deal worth an initial £19m, with potential add-ons able to take the full price of the deal to just over £37m.
Meanwhile, Hojlund was signed last summer for a whopping £72m.
Despite a slow and injury-riddled start to life at Old Trafford, Hojlund has still chipped in with 13 goals in all competitions this season.
Dutchman Koopmeiners could now be next to make the switch to Manchester, with his versatility potentially proving a valuable asset to Erik ten Hag’s midfield.
While he has excelled as a defensive midfielder in the past, this season he has been utilised in a more advanced box-crashing role which has yielded a return of 12 goals and four assists in all comps.
Indeed, some of Koopmeiners’ overall stats relative to the Italian top flight are also impressive.
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He has made 47 key passes which ranks him seventh in the league and is among the players to touch the ball the most in the attacking third.
Man Utd’s spending power will depend on player sales, and should they be able to get some money from the sale of stars, such as Casemiro, they will be able to outmuscle Juventus to land him.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
