Manchester United Rumors: Midfielder Agrees To 5-Year Deal; January Move Mooted

Manchester United’s drive to sign the best young talent from around the world took another step, with the club acquiring the services of Moises Caicedo from Ecuadorian club Independiente del Valle.

Caicedo has already made his debut for the Ecuador national team starting in their last four World Cup qualifiers. The 19-year-old made 28 appearances for Independiente last season, scoring six goals with two assists.

According to Italian publication Tutto Mercato, Manchester United has reportedly offered $5 million for Caicedo, which has been accepted by Independiente. The midfielder is also said to have agreed to terms over a five-year deal with the English Premier League side.

The Red Devils are hoping to bring the player during the January transfer window. He is expected to get the work permit owing to his appearances with the senior national team.

But in case the process is delayed, the club is said to be open to allowing him to continue with Independiente until next summer.

Caicedo will become the third teenager signed by Manchester United in the last three months after they picked up Uruguayan youngster Facundo Pellistri and Ivory Coast-born Amad Diallo this past October prior to the transfer deadline.

The former is already in Manchester and was an unused substitute during the Red Devils’ UEFA Champions League wins over Paris Saint-Germain and Istanbul Besaksahir.

Club manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer believes that spending time with the first-team will benefit Pellistri.

“We felt Facundo would benefit," Solskjaer said, as quoted on Manchester Evening News. "He started training with the first-team - he did well but we couldn't give him game time so we thought we'd give him a run of games in the 23s and he's benefited from that. His confidence has been given a boost. He's shown in all the games that he can impact the game.”

Meanwhile, Diallo is set to arrive in January after receiving his Italian passport that will allow him to play in England.

He just made two appearances off the bench for Atlanta, but Solksjaer revealed that he could go straight into the first-team depending on how he acclimatizes to the game in England.

“With Amad, hopefully, we can get him in and we'll see how the squad looks and how he looks and how he settles as soon as possible. They're both talented players that we believe will have a long career here. It's important we find the right time,” he explained.