Roma Reportedly Offer Lorenzo Pellegrini Pay Rise, Manchester United Interested

Rob BlanchetteAug 30, 2018

Manchester United's interest in Roma's Lorenzo Pellegrini has reportedly triggered a new wage offer from the Giallorossi for the 22-year-old.

According to Italian outlet Calciomercato (h/t Mark Taylor of the Daily Express), the Serie A club could offer the midfielder a pay rise after the Red Devils' persistent interest. United manager Jose Mourinho reportedly has been monitoring the Italy international for a year, and could finally make a move for the player in January. Roma wish to retain the starlet, who is considered one of his country's brightest young talents.

ROME, ITALY - AUGUST 27: Lorenzo Pellegrini of AS Roma during the Italian Serie A match between AS Roma v Atalanta Bergamo at the Stadio Olimpico Rome on August 27, 2018 in Rome Italy (Photo by Laurens Lindhout/Soccrates/Getty Images)

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Per Calciomercato, the Rome-born talent has a release clause of €30 million (£26 million), but his club want to double this figure—or completely remove it from his contract.

United suffered a frustrating summer in the transfer market, only signing Brazil international Fred from Shakhtar Donetsk. The busy midfielder would benefit from the capture of Pellegrini, allowing Paul Pogba to play further up the field.

However, freelance journalist John Solano questioned the player's overall quality on Twitter:

Mourinho continues to roll the dice in defence and midfield and is yet to find the perfect combination after two years at Old Trafford.

Nemanja Matic is considered first-choice defensive midfielder, but Pellegrini's presence would add fresh technicality and energy to the position.

The Italian featured in 36 games for Roma in Serie A and Europe last term, as he carved a regular slot in the first team. Pellegrini scored three goals and provided five assists as he proved to be a highly valuable member of the squad.

(L-R) Lorenzo Pellegrini of Italy, Giacomo Bonaventura of Italy during the International friendly match between Italy and The Netherlands at Allianz Stadium on June 04, 2018 in Turin, Italy(Photo by VI Images via Getty Images)

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United are yet to find a replacement for Michael Carrick since his retirement, and Pellegrini would bring the calmness formerly associated with the England international.

The Roma midfielder can operate from deeper areas of the pitch and screen the defence as Carrick once did, but whether the pace of the Premier League would be detrimental to his game is yet to be discovered.