Manchester United are 'preparing a January swoop' for Roma midfielder Lorenzo Pellegrini as the Italian club scramble to remove his £26million release clause.
Jose Mourinho is an admirer of the Italy international, 22, and United would be prepared to double Pellegrini's current salary of around £890,000-a-year.
According to Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport, Pellegrini's agent Giacomo Pocetta met United directors in London on Saturday and a sizeable offer was put on the table.
United would not only pay the release clause in his contract, which runs until June 2022, but would ensure Pellegrini is handsomely paid.