Due to the snag in the transfer of Sporting Lisbon midfielder Bruno Fernandes, Manchester United are reportedly preparing to launch a bid for Inter midfielder Matías Vecino as an alternative. The Inter star has made 17 appearances for Antonio Conte’s side this season, offering two goals and an assist from midfield.
According to Gazzetta dello Sport, United are tracking the Inter man, amid suggestions that Antonio Conte would be willing to sell the player for roughly €20million. The Uruguayan midfielder has been left out of Conte’s last three starting teams for Inter and has also been linked to Everton.
United and Sporting are locked in negotiations over Fernandes but are yet to actually strike a deal. With just over a week remaining in the transfer window, the Red Devils appear to be considering alternatives.
According to Sky Sport Italia (via Football Italia), that has taken them to Vecino. The 28-year-old has been heavily linked with a move away from the club this winter, especially because of Christian Eriksen’s imminent arrival. Once the Danish international does join, it is expected that Inter will allow Vecino to leave. He had been linked with moving to Tottenham Hotspur in exchange for Eriksen, but it appears as though Spurs had no interest in such a deal.
Conte is thought to be a big fan of Matić, having worked with him during his time with Chelsea. The chance to join Inter would likely be appealing to the midfielder, given he will probably be looking for a new club next summer anyway.
However, United will surely not weaken their midfield by allowing him to walk just yet. Vecino may well come, but probably not in place of Matić, so a move for Vecino would certainly make sense from that perspective. However, one report which seems less convincing comes from Sport Mediaset (via SempreInter), who claim that United could send Nemanja Matić to Inter in exchange for Vecino.
While Matić almost certainly has no future at Old Trafford beyond the expiry of his current contract in the summer, it would come as a huge surprise to see Ole Gunnar Solskjaer part ways with the Serbian right now, given his lack of midfield options is the entire reason he is looking for a new signing.
