Manchester United Transfer News: Latest Matteo Darmian, Jesper Karlsson Rumours

Manchester United full-back Matteo Darmian is reportedly emerging as a transfer target for Premier League rivals Chelsea, according to reports from Italy.

The Blues are among a list of three suitors, also including Serie A duo Napoli and Juventus, per Italian source Calciomercato.com (h/t Lewis Winter of the Daily Star). The reports stated that Darmian is under contract until 2019, but there have been rumours regarding the Italian defender's souring relationship with United manager Jose Mourinho.

Italian source Tuttosport (h/t Samuel Lovett of The Independent) recently stated that Darmian could be moved on in January after his relationship with Mourinho suffered a "complete breakdown."

Alex Livesey/Getty Images

Significantly, those reports named Serie A champions Juve as the leading suitors this winter, indicating the Old Lady could take Darmian on loan in January. The player's inability to get on the pitch for Mourinho remains something of a mystery.

Darmian hasn't made a single appearance for the Red Devils so far this season, according to WhoScored.com. He may have struggled last season, but the Italian is a tireless runner who can play either full-back position and is an effective outlet going forward.

He has the skills to help out on the right side, where veteran Antonio Valencia continues to be reliable but isn't a natural defender. Darmian would also represent good cover on the left, where Luke Shaw is not far removed from the broken leg he suffered last season.

Matthew Ashton - AMA/Getty Images

Yet talk of a split between Darmian and the Old Trafford club continues to grow. If he continues to be left out of the side, a January return to Italy's top flight would surely prove too tempting for both player and club.

United Approach Teenage Striker Jesper Karlsson

United have historically had a fidelity to developing young talent and are reportedly preparing to continue along those lines.

The Red Devils have approached Swedish club Falkenberg regarding 18-year-old attacker Jesper Karlsson, per Swedish source Fotboll Direkt (h/t the Daily Star's Alex Harris).

MB Media/Getty Images

The club's sporting director, Hakan Nilsson, refused to comment on United's interest but indicated that Karlsson wouldn't be blocked from leaving: "We will not stand in the way, but we're supposed to be understood at the same time to make the best deal possible."

United are in the process of overhauling how they recruit and develop academy talent. Their plans have included signing Roy Beukenkamp from PSV Eindhoven to be the scout for the Netherlands, according to Dutch source Voetbal International (h/t Simon Jones of MailOnline).

Still, United academy manager Nicky Butt told the Manchester Evening News (h/t James Gray of the Daily Express) that the Red Devils will continue to scour local sources as they search for the next domestic breakthrough talent.

United appear intent on staying faithful to at least giving youth a chance. Signing Karlsson would show that the policy is still in practice on Mourinho's watch.