ASGHAR WORKING ON ANOTHER LOAN DEAL FOR LEVITT

DUNDEE UNITED are negotiating with Manchester United in a bid to bring Dylan Levitt back to Tannadice.

The club’s sporting director Tony Asghar has confirmed that new manager Jack Ross has endorsed the efforts to re-sign the Welsh midfielder, who was a standout on loan last season.

The 21-year-old has since signed a one-year contract extension at Old Trafford but, with his first-team opportunities distant under new boss Eric Ten Hag, he could be farmed out again to boost his chances of going to the World Cup in Qatar later this year.

Levitt has 12 full caps for Wales and previously played at Euro 2020.

‘We really liked Dylan last year, we are still interested and there are talks ongoing,’ said Asghar. ‘He has just triggered another year with Manchester United and he has obviously got a World Cup to aim for.

‘He is a player who will fit into our system. He is well liked by all the players and loved by the fans. So, yes, we are continuing to try and do something there.’

Asghar revealed that new boss Ross — tied down on a two-year deal to succeed Tam Courts — is keen to add Levitt to his squad.

He added: ‘Jack likes the player. When you bring someone in you have to run the list of targets past him.

‘When you see Levitt and the influence he had, especially in the second half of the season, he is a player we would like at Dundee United. Manchester United know our feelings.’

With Benjamin Siegrist, Marc McNulty and Adrian Sporle among those to have left the club at the end of last season, Ross has scope to shape his squad.

‘We have a small squad at the moment as we go into the market for Jack,’ added Asghar.

‘That’s great for Jack as he has an opportunity to build five or six new players into the group alongside those young players.’

Asghar admits Aberdeen’s sale of Calvin Ramsay to Liverpool has set a new standard for his club’s youth development aims.

Ramsay’s transfer to Anfield — secured after just one full season of first-team football — has generated just over £4million for the Pittodrie coffers.

United fielded no fewer than 16 academy graduates in the first team last season but have yet to realise a comparable sale from their home-grown talent pool.

‘To have a player come through, make Aberdeen a good team and then move on for good money — I think it’s a great piece of business,’ said Asghar.

‘The owners and I have been clear that we want to develop young Scottish players and we feel we have a group of players that can do that.’