Reds turn to 16-year-old to ease midfield crisis

UNITED are interested in signing Birmingham City midfielder Jude Bellingham.

The 16-year-old has started 18 of Birmingham’s Championship fixtures this season and is out of contract next year but is already generating intense interest across Europe.

United are prepared to intervene this month in an attempt to sign Bellingham, having made a similar attempt with Erling Haaland before the striker rejected them in favour of Borussia Dortmund.

The Reds are on the lookout for a midfield signing this month and M.E.N. Sport revealed the club has been exploring loan options in the Spanish market.

United feel a number of La Liga clubs have sizeable enough squads to sanction a temporary transfer and Marcos Llorente of Atletico Madrid is viewed as an option.

Bellingham only made his Birmingham debut in August and, at the age of 16 years and 38 days, beat the record of 16 years 139 days as the club’s youngest player that Trevor Francis held for 39 years.

Bellingham fits United’s youthful transfer strategy and does not turn 17 until June. The Reds started an overhaul of their midfield last year with the departures of Marouane Fellaini and Ander Herrera but failed to secure a replacement for either.

Newcastle United demanded £50m for target Sean Longstaff in early July and United’s pursuit of the 22-year-old appears to be over.

Nemanja Matic, 31, could be released in the summer and Paul Pogba is determined to leave. Matic and Fred are currently the only out-and-out midfielders available to Solskjaer.