Man Utd planning "shock move" to sign £28m star, two UCL assists this week - report

Manchester United could sign a new midfielder when the transfer window reopens in January, according to Sunday Mirror (page 70).

The Red Devils had a slow start to the Premier League campaign, picking up only seven points from their opening six matches. However, they have won their last three games, and are currently just one point adrift of the Champions League spots.

After the huge spending spree last summer, United may not have funds to spend big on a midfielder in January. Instead, they could get creative and pursue a loan deal. Sunday Mirror now claim that the club are lining up ‘a shock move’ for Jobe Bellingham.

Bellingham signed for Borussia Dortmund in a deal worth £28 million from Sunderland last summer. He was hailed as a marquee signing, but things have gone pear-shaped for him, with just four starts in his first 12 appearances for the German heavyweights.

On top of this, there are growing tensions off the pitch between sporting director Sebastian Kehl and Bellingham’s father, Mark. The pair clashed during the opening game of the Bundesliga season. Mark took exception to his son being substituted at half-time by manager Niko Kovac.

This has sparked speculation about Bellingham’s future, and reports claim United are keeping a close eye on the situation. The Red Devils are weighing up a potential loan move for January.

United can assess Bellingham’s potential with loan deal

The 20-year-old can operate as a defensive or central midfielder. He made 47 appearances for Sunderland in all competitions last season, registering five goals and four assists.

He played a key role in their promotion to the English top flight, and his efforts were rewarded with the Championship Young Player of the Year accolade at the end of the campaign.

Bellingham had the chance to start his English top-flight career with the Black Cats, but chose to join Dortmund instead, a club that played a big part in his brother’s (Jude) development.

The young midfielder recently bagged his first two assists for Dortmund in the 4-2 win over Copenhagen in the Champions League, but he was a late substitute against Koln in the Bundesliga this weekend.

If he were to contemplate a new challenge in January, it could open the door for the Red Devils. United would ideally want to assess his performances before considering a long-term deal.

Bellingham caught the eye with his distribution, duel-winning ability and ball recoveries at Sunderland last term. He completed 86 percent of his passes with 5.9 duels won alongside 5.5 recoveries.

He also won almost two tackles and two clearances per appearance. The youngster has shown glimpses of his ability at Dortmund, but has yet to find consistency amid the lack of regular minutes.

United could explore a loan deal with a future option to buy, but a move may depend on whether manager Ruben Amorim can guarantee him more playing time from the starting XI.

Unlike Carlos Baleba or Adam Wharton, there is always a risk associated with Bellingham, who has no Premier League experience, and may need extra time to adapt to the higher intensity.

Stats from Transfermarkt.com & Sofascore.com

Article written by Sri Aswin .