Manchester United director of football negotiations ‘flies to Italy in bid to seal Sofyan Amrabat deal’… with private jet ‘booked in’ for Fiorentina star

Manchester United’s director of football negotiations has reportedly flown to Florence in a bid to get a long-running pursuit of Sofyan Amrabat over the line on deadline day. 

Erik ten Hag has been eager to add another midfielder to his ranks, with out-of-favour players like Donny van de Beek and Scott McTominay deemed surplus to requirements. 

A move for Amrabat has taken time, and amid interest from other sides, the Athletic report that United director Matt Hargreaves has now headed to Florence to speed up a move. 

Having signed Turkish goalkeeper Altay Bayindir and defender Sergio Reguilon, Amrabat is now United’s key focus with around 12 hours left until the deadline.

The clubs are discussing a loan with obligation to buy the Morocco international, who has been training away from the first team group while his future is resolved.

Fiorentina president Rocco Commisso is a tough negotiator and has not been willing to budge when it comes to the terms he wants for his star man. 

Speaking on Thursday he revealed that while Manchester United are pursuing, other clubs have entered the race.

‘There are other clubs for Amrabat too. I cannot give an answer right now, because not even I know what will happen tomorrow,’ Commisso told Sky Italy after Fiorentina’s Europa Conference League win against Rapid Vienna.

‘We told Amrabat that if he has an opportunity to leave, then we’ll let him go. If this deal cannot be done, then he has two years left on his contract and will remain.

‘There are many negotiations in progress. I don’t want to name names. So wait 24 hours and then you’ll know what happens.’

Amrabat – who is yet to play this season – shot to stardom with his superb performances at the World Cup for Morocco last year and he was key as Fiorentina reached both the Europa Conference League and Coppa Italia final. 

Should Hargreaves, a former executive at adidas, succeed in tying up a deal for Amrabat, there would be a race to get him to England.

The Manchester Evening News report that a private jet has already been booked in to fly Hargreaves and the player back from Florence. 

Meanwhile, Manchester United striker Charlie McNeill is set to join Stevenage on loan for the season.

McNeill, 19, spent the second half of last season on loan at League Two side Newport County, scoring twice in 20 appearances.

 More to follow.