Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag, December 2023

Manchester United plotting major transfer to make £51m wonderkid the first signing of the INEOS era: report

January 31, 2024 Sports 29 Views

Manchester United are said to be pondering a big-money move for highly-rated Atalanta centre-back Giorgio Scalvini.

The 20-year-old has proven his prodigious talent by already establishing himself in Serie A, with Atalanta currently trying to tie him down to a new long-term deal.

But any contract extension may prove immaterial, with United reportedly keen to bring Scalvini to Old Trafford.

The Atalanta player Giorgio Scalvini during the match Lazio-Atalanta at the Stadio Olimpico. Rome (Italy), October 08th, 2023 (Photo by Massimo Insabato/Archivio Massimo Insabato/Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images) — Scalvini is in the hunt for Champions League qualification with Atalanta this season (Image credit: Getty Images)

According to Italian outlet Calciomercato (via TEAMTALK), the Red Devils are firmly in the race to sign Scalvini, who is understood to be valued at up to €60m (£51.2m).

It goes without saying that would be an enormous amount of money to pay for such a young player – but United have previous in making such acquisitions, and from Atalanta too…

Scalvini’s former teammate Rasmus Hojlund left for Old Trafford last summer in a £72m deal, just six months after his 20th birthday. And back in 21, United signed Jadon Sancho, then 21, from Borussia Dortmund for £73m.

OK, the latter move has not worked out – Sancho ended up falling out with manager Erik ten Hag and returned to Dortmund on loan earlier this month – but recent windows have seen the 13-time Premier League champions continue to splash the cash in the transfer market.

MOENCHENGLADBACH, GERMANY - JUNE 14: Giorgio Scalvini of Italy looks on during the UEFA Nations League League A Group 3 match between Germany and England at Borussia Park Stadium on June 14, 2022 in Moenchengladbach, Germany. (Photo by Matteo Ciambelli/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)

Scalvini made his full Italy debut aged 18, in a Nations League clash with Germany (Image credit: Getty Images)

Whether such lavish spending will continue with the arrival of new investors INEOS remains to be seen, but burgeoning prospects such as Scalvini ought to be the kind of players on which United look to build solid foundations for a successful future.

Capped seven times by Italy at senior level already, Scalvini – who joined Atalanta’s youth system from that of Brescia in 2015 – has racked up 74 senior appearances for Atalanta, including six in the Europa League.