Man Utd plotting huge bid for Real Madrid star with Carlo Ancelotti on course to win bet

Manchester United are plotting a summer move for Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde, according to reports in Spain.

United were linked with the Uruguay international last summer prior to completing a deal for his former Real Madrid teammate Casemiro.

Erik ten Hag is thought to be keen sign further midfield reinforcements in the summer after a relatively low-key January transfer window, which saw Jack Butland, Wout Weghorst and Marcel Sabitzer join the club on short-term loan deals.

Reports in Spain, via Manchester Evening News and TeamTalk, claim United remain interested in signing Valverde, with the Premier League club setting aside €80m (£71.8m) to sign the 24-year-old.

While that is a sizeable sum, it is unlikely to be enough to convince Madrid to sell the midfielder, who has been a key player for Carlo Ancelotti this season.

Valverde has already made 30 appearances in all competitions for Madrid, scoring eight times.

Ancelotti on course to win Valverde 'bet'

Earlier in the season, Ancelotti said he was so confident Valverde would net double figures that he would bet his coaching career on the Uruguayan scoring more than 10.

"I made a bet, but I think he'll score more than 10 this season," said Ancelotti, after Valverde netted his seventh of the campaign.

"If he scores four more then I get to keep my coaching licence! He keeps surprising us. He does well on the wing or in midfield."

Valverde first joined Real Madrid from Uruguayan club Penarol in 2016 and has gone on to make 178 appearances for the club, scoring 14 times.

He has already won La Liga twice and was part of the side that beat Liverpool in last season's Champions League final, providing the assist for Vinicius Jr's winner in a 1-0 victory for the Spanish club.

Valverde is under contract with Madrid until 2027 and has shown no signs of wanting to leave the Bernabeu, even if United made a move.

Earlier this season, reports in Spain claimed he holds ambitions of becoming club captain at Real Madrid in the future, seemingly ruling out a move to Old Trafford this summer.