Manchester United In Talks With Lazio Over Midfielder Exit

Manchester United is now in discussions with Lazio for the possible transfer of Andreas Pereira.

Sky Sports Italy reported Sunday that Serie A club Lazio is eyeing a move for Pereira, with sporting director Igli Tare keen on discussing the 24-year-old’s transfer with the Red Devils in the final week of the window.

Sports journalist Fabrizio Romano, who has a credible track record for breaking European soccer transfer news, later tweeted that Lazio has “opened talks” with United to sign Pereira. Romano said negotiations between Lazio and United have just started, with the Italian side considering the midfielder as an “option.”

Lazio is looking to bolster its midfield after missing out on former Manchester City midfielder David Silva, the club’s target who opted to join La Liga side Real Sociedad.

Pereira’s playing time in the first team was drastically slimmed down due to the arrival of Donny van de Beek at Old Trafford this summer. In fact, the Belgian-Brazilian has not been called up for Solskajaer’s squad in United's first two Premier League games of the season as well as the club's Carabao Cup match with Luton last week.

Van de Beek, meanwhile, came under fire in his first season with United as Red Devils fans suggested that the former Ajax star is “not enough” to improve the team. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer shut down all Van de Beek criticisms and instead sent a warning to the entire team, ESPN reported.

"I think you show quite a bit of disrespect to Donny when you say he was the only one, because he is a top player, and he strengthens our team," Solskjaer said at a news conference on Friday. “The first major contribution is for them to give 100% and want to be a part of the team themselves.”

“They have got to want to be a part of this team going forward, be a part of this culture,” he added. “If they don’t, they will have to train by themselves.”

Along with Pereira, Jesse Lingard’s future with United is also uncertain, with his representatives already holding initial talks with various clubs. Sky Sports earlier reported that United has yet to receive any concrete offers for Lingard, who still has one year left in his contract.