Man Utd are expected to make a move for Benfica’s highly-rated winger Andrija Zivkovic.
Jose Mourinho, the Man Utd manager, has been frustrated in his attempts this summer to add competition to the wide positions at Old Trafford.
Moves for Inter Milan’s Ivan Perisic and Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale have both failed, and Mourinho has been sending scouts to keep an eye on Zivkovic’s progress in Portugal.
According to Portuguese news agency O Jogo, Man Utd could make a move for the Serbian in the January transfer window, should be continue to impress.
Zivkovic is likely to be significantly cheaper than Perisic or Bale. Man Utd were left frustrated by Inter Milan’s reluctance to sell the Croatian in the summer, whilst their hopes of luring Bale to Old Trafford ended after Kyliann Mbappe joined PSG rather than Real Madrid.
Man Utd and Mourinho will have the chance to monitor Zivkovic up close in the coming weeks. Man Utd have been drawn in the same Champions League group as Benfica. Zivkovic laid on an assist for Benfica in their 2-1 defeat to CSKA Moscow in midweek.
Should Mourinho make his move for Zivkovic, it will be the second time he has raided Benfica in recent months, after signing Swedish international defender Victor Lindelof from the Portuguese champions.
Man Utd host Everton tomorrow without key midfielder Paul Pogba who suffered a hamstring injury during the 3-0 win over Basel in midweek.