Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini has confirmed Manchester United want Amad Diallo to join them this month.
United agreed a deal to sign the winger in October from the Italian club for an initial fee of £19m.
The transfer hinged on a work permit being accepted, and Diallo stayed at Atalanta on loan for the start of this season.
However, it now appears the deal is ready to go through, and speaking to Sky Sport Gasperini suggested the 18-year-old will be making the move to England imminently.
"It's difficult [to keep Diallo until the end of the season] because Manchester United want him to join the club immediately in January," he said. "Amad received his passport"
United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer recently spoke of his excitement of welcoming the exciting Diallo to the club.
He said: "We have had all the paperwork, I can't see any obstacles. He's coming.
"I hope very soon he will be with us. I'm very excited about bringing him in. I think he's shown a few times his qualities.
"Of course he has to learn to play in England, that's a different level of football. We'll give him time to develop and to express himself.
"Apart from that, I'm not really thinking too much on what we're going to do with players. Of course, we're always working long-term.
"That's the big thing. We have targets we need long-term for the club."
The total fee Man United have agreed to stump up for Diallo is £36million. But this will be paid in installments when bonus-related clauses in the winger's contract are triggered.
Diallo has only featured for Atalanta twice this season, and it remains to be seen how long it will be until he makes his competitive debut for the United first team.
