Manchester United 'are growing increasingly confident they could sign Saul Niguez in a club record £135million deal' as they look to replace Paul Pogba.
The Old Trafford club have been long-term admirers of the Atletico Madrid midfielder and sent scouts to watch Saul as he helped knock Liverpool out of the Champions League earlier this month.
And, according to The Daily Star, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer received a glowing report, confirming Saul as a prime target for the next transfer window.
With Pogba expected to leave in the coming months, with Real Madrid interested in the £100m-rated French midfielder, United would reinvest the cash to sign 25-year-old Spain star Niguez.
Saul has a buy-out clause in his nine-year Atletico contract of £135m and United are prepared to match that, smashing the club record £89m they spent to bring Pogba back from Juventus in 2016.
He would fit the profile of world class, but still relatively young, talent that Solskjaer is seeking as he attempts to rebuild United back into a trophy-winning force.
Saul would fit into United's midfield alongside Portuguese star Bruno Fernandes, who has made a fine start to life at Old Trafford after signing from Sporting Lisbon in January.
The Spanish player signed a uniquely long contract with Atletico back in 2017 that runs through until 2026.
Saul has scored four times in 26 appearances for Atletico this season, including the only goal of their Champions League last-16, first leg against Liverpool in Madrid.
They subsequently won 3-2 at Anfield after extra time to secure their place in the quarter-finals if and when the season resumes following the coronavirus pandemic.