Man Utd ‘to make move’ for Real Madrid target ahead of midfield clear-out

Manchester United have been tipped to make a move River Plate’s Enzo Fernandez this summer, with four midfielders believed to be ready to leave the club at the end of the season.

The Red Devils could lose Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard and Juan Mata for free in June as the trio are out of contract, while Nemanja Matic has announced he will also leave the club, despite having a year left on his current deal.

According to the Daily Star, United are interested in bringing Fernandez, who has four goals and three assists in 11 appearances for River Plate this campaign, to Old Trafford.

The newspaper also claims that the Red Devils sent scouts to watch the 21-year-old score in River Plate’s 2-0 win against Fortaleza in the Copa Libertadores last Wednesday.

They suggest Fernandez has a £20.6m release clause in his contract, but United face competition from Real Madrid and cross-town rivals Manchester City for the Argentine’s signature.

City have already signed the 21-year-old’s River Plate teammate Julian Alvarez, who is set to join Pep Guardiola’s squad in July for pre-season.

It is expected that Ajax’s Erik ten Hag will become the Red Devils’ next manager, with the Dutchman ‘verbally agreeing’ to take the job as per, The Athletic.

If Ten Hag is appointed, then Fernandez could become his first signing of what is expected to be a busy summer transfer window for United.

The club will need to replace those set to depart at the end of the campaign and according to multiple reports have midfielders on their radar, including Leeds United’s Kalvin Phillips and West Ham’s Declan Rice.

However, a deal for the latter would come at a big expense for the Red Devils, with West Ham manager David Moyes slapping a whopping £150m price-tag on Rice’s head.

The Red Devils, who are competing with the Hammers for a top four place in the Premier League, currently sit fifth, three points behind fourth-place Tottenham Hotspur, with six games remaining.

As for Fernandez’s current club, River Plate are second in Argentina’s top flight, two points behind leaders Racing Club after 10 matches.