Manchester United director of football negotiations flies to Italy in bid to seal Sofyan Amrabat deal… with private jet ‘booked in’ for Fiorentina star

Manchester United’s director of football negotiations has flown to Florence in a bid to end a long-running pursuit of Sofyan Amrabat on deadline day.

Erik ten Hag was keen to add another midfielder to his ranks, with disgraced players such as Donny van de Beek and Scott McTominay deemed unnecessary.

A move for Amrabat has taken time, and amid interest from other parties, United director Matt Hargreaves has now headed to Florence to expedite a move.

Having signed Turkish goalkeeper Altay Bayindir and defender Sergio Reguilon, Amrabat is now United’s main focus, with around 12 hours left until the deadline.

The clubs are discussing a loan with the obligation to buy the Morocco international, who has been training outside the first-team squad while his future is set.

Fiorentina president Rocco Commisso is a tough negotiator and unwilling to give in to the terms he wants for his star man.

On Thursday, he revealed that while Manchester United gave chase, other clubs have entered the race.

‘There are also other clubs for Amrabat. I can’t answer now because even I don’t know what will happen tomorrow,” Commisso told Sky Italy after Fiorentina’s Europa Conference League victory against Rapid Vienna.

“We told Amrabat that if he gets the chance to leave, we will let him go. If this deal falls through, his contract has two years left and he will stay.

“There are a lot of negotiations going on. I don’t want to name names. So wait 24 hours, then you will know what happens.’

Amrabat – who has yet to play this season – rose to fame with his stellar World Cup performances for Morocco last year and he played a key role as Fiorentina reached both the Europa Conference League and Coppa Italia finals.

Should Hargreaves, a former director at Adidas, manage to secure a deal for Amrabat, there would be a race to get him to England.

The Manchester Evening News report that a private jet has already been booked to fly Hargreaves and the player back from Florence.

Meanwhile, Manchester United striker Charlie McNeill is on loan at Stevenage this season.

McNeill, 19, was loaned out to League Two side Newport County for the second half of last season, scoring twice in 20 appearances.

More to follow.