Manchester United are reportedly set to rival Juventus in the pursuit of Chievo goalkeeper Alessandro Confente.
Daily Mirror report that Manchester United have stepped up their interest in Chievo goalkeeper Alessandro Confente. The teenage talent has been long on Juventus’ radar, but it seems the Red Devils are intent on beating the defending Serie A champions to the shot-stopper.
Confente is an 18-year-old Italian goalkeeping talent who joined Chievo’s youth ranks in August, 2012. He has graduated to the Under-19 squad at Chievo and impressed in his outings for the club in the Primavera division, letting in only 9 goals in 9 games, with 3 clean sheets in the process.
The Italian Under-19 international has been on the radar of Juventus for quite a while with the Bianconeri looking at various talents who can take up the role of first-choice keeper for the Old Lady when Gianluigi Buffon decides to hang up his gloves.
The Mirror report suggests that Manchester Untied were already scouting the player before the arrival of Jose Mourinho at Old Trafford and have continued to monitor his progress, stepping up their interest in the pursuit of the 18-year-old.
.@ManUtd have stepped up their interest in Chievo keeper Alessandro Confente. (Mirror) pic.twitter.com/tsXkxAScyN
— The ManUtd Blog (@the_manutd_blog) January 7, 2017
While Confente is a part of Chievo’s Under 19 side, he has already started training with the senior squad and is thought to be close to a break-through into the first-team setup at the club. Confente has only recently signed an extension, which sees his new deal run till 2020.
The report states that the player is valued at around £4 million by Chievo, a fee neither United or Juventus would have much trouble in splashing in exchange for the talented custodian.
Manchester United have David De Gea and Sergio Romero as the first and second choice options for Jose Mourinho while Joel Castro Pereira has also been called back to the club. Sam Johnstone, who has gone on loan to Aston Villa, is also on Manchester United’s books.
Thus, with so many options already at Mourinho’s disposal, it looks highly unlikely that the Red Devils will move in for the 18-year-old. But if the scouting department does end up providing a glittering report for the talent, it would not be too surprising if Mourinho attempts to scupper Juventus’ pursuit of Confente.
