Manchester United are planning to make a formal offer for River Plate playmaker Franco Mastantuono, according to reports in Italy.

Calciomercato.com claim that AC Milan were hopeful of entering the race for the 17-year-old after Real Madrid decided to pull out of negotiations.

However, the Rossoneri could still be beaten to the punch by the Red Devils, who are said to be “ready” to table a bid “within the next few days”.

No detail is given on how big the proposal will be but we have some idea based on his reported release clause.

Mastantuono can be signed for £42.5m

Initial reports suggested that the Argentinian Under 20 international has a €45m (£38.3m) buyout fee in his contract. However, it has been subsequently claimed that the price has risen to €50m (£42.5m)

That is a substantial fee for someone who has only made 55 senior appearances in his career, but many believe Mastantuono has the ability to reach the highest level.

What has persuaded Man United to make their move now?

Mastantuono’s performances for River Plate have attracted a lot of attention. In addition to Real and Milan, Chelsea are also said to be keeping a close eye on him.

However, with the possible exception of Chelsea, none of those teams are reportedly in a position to make a formal bid.

United are likely trying to get ahead of the competition by moving early for Mastantuono. They could potentially try and tempt River Plate into selling for a lower amount by allowing him to stay on loan in Argentina for a year or more. That may prove beneficial for the player as well due to his inexperience. We shall see what happens when the Red Devils do table their proposal.

Find out who is in Manchester United’s first-team squad for the 2024/2025 season here