Man Utd target with €30m release clause could give Mourinho’s midfield a new look

Manchester United are reportedly willing to double Lorenzo Pellegrini’s salary with Jose Mourinho said to be eager to sign the Italy international in January.

Mourinho has set his sights on improving a number of areas of his team which sits eight in the Premier League, 12 points of league leaders and champions Manchester City. The Reds finished 19 points off their rivals last season as runners up, but look to have regressed since then.

One of those areas appears to be the midfield.

According to Corriere dello Sport, cited by Football Italia, United directors met with Pellegrini’s agent Giacomo Pocetta in London where a proposal was put forward.

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The same report suggests Pellegrini has a €30 million release clause in his contract, though it is also stated that United are willing to double his current salary of €1 million per year.

While they claim Roma don’t want to lose another star player just months after selling Radja Nainggolan to Inter and Kevin Strootman to Marseille, the Serie A club will be under pressure with such a tempting release clause hanging in front of United.

Footballers rarely reject United when the Reds come knocking. It would take something special for Roma to convince Pellegrini to stay if our interest is genuine.

United definitely need something different in the centre, with Nemanja Matic past his best and Fred hardly getting a look in after costing the club £52 million, as per Daily Mail. There are also reports via the Express stating the club has already held talks with Juventus over a Paul Pogba transfer.

So, the potential capture of Pellegrini could change the look of United’s midfield but some will warn the Roma star about the lack of game time Fred has received since moving to Old Trafford.

The current United midfield trio — set up in a 4-3-3 formation — only has two certainties each week, granted Matic and Pogba are fully fit. Taking up the third spot has been either Marouane Fellaini or Ander Herrera which may explain why United lose so many battles in midfield.

Whatever the pairing in the centre, this Mourinho side lacks mobility and is too slow or positioned too deep to create anything for the front men.

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Roma fans, on the other hand, will be hoping they can persuade the player to agree to fresh terms in order to remove the €30 million release clause currently on his contract.

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