Manchester United join Roma and Juventus in race for sought-after Sassuolo star: report
Davide Frattesi has caught the attention of Juventus and Roma - but United are also considering a bid
Manchester United are reportedly interested in Sassuolo midfielder Davide Frattesi and poised to join a summer transfer battle with Juventus and Roma.
The 23-year-old is a wanted man in Italy after impressing over the last two seasons in the Italian top flight.
Frattesi could find himself at the centre of a transfer tussle this summer, according to reports in Italy.
Tuttomercatoweb writes that Juventus have alerted Sassuolo of their interest as they see him as a potential replacement for Adrien Rabiot, who could leave on a free at the end of his contract in July.
However, uncertainty around the Frenchman’s future and whether Juve will qualify for Europe next season has complicated matters in Turin.
Frattesi is said to be tempted by a Juve switch, but his boyhood club Roma are also in the frame.
The Giallorossi have a useful bargaining chip – Sassuolo agreed to a 30% future sale fee when they signed Frattesi from Roma in 2017, and this could allow the capital club to negotiate a lower price than the €30m being requested by the Neroverdi.
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Gazzetta dello Sport believes that United have been following Frattesi’s progress for some time and could make an offer as soon as the transfer window opens.
Frattesi, who has a deal until 2026 with Sassuolo, is valued at €22m by Transfermarkt.
He has shone over the last two seasons in Reggio Emilia, firstly under Roberto De Zerbi and now under Alessio Dionisi, and has scored six goals in 27 Serie A games this term.
Frattesi is a dynamic central midfielder with an eye for goal, and earned his first four Azzurri caps last year in the UEFA Nations League – two of which came against England.
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The Glazer ownership are not guaranteed to sell up – despite bids from lifelong fan, Sir Jim Radcliffe and Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani. Meanwhile, Marcus Rashford has underlined the importance of positive mentality at Old Trafford.
Alasdair Mackenzie is a freelance journalist based in Rome, and a FourFourTwo contributor since 2015. When not pulling on the FFT shirt, he can be found at Reuters, The Times and the i. An Italophile since growing up on a diet of Football Italia on Channel 4, he now counts himself among thousands of fans sharing a passion for Ross County and Lazio.