Manchester United are exploring the possibility of signing right-winger Amad Traore from Atalanta.
The MEN understands Ivory Coast-born Traore, 18, is not seen as an alternative to Jadon Sancho and United have contacted Atalanta amid competition from other clubs.
Italian sources have warned Traore will not be cheap despite his playing time in Serie A amounting to just 30 minutes. Traore has been heavily linked with a loan move to Parma.
Traore became the youngest player, at 17 years and 109 days old, to score on his Serie A debut in Atalanta's 7-1 thrashing of Udinese last season and travelled with the squad to Lisbon for their Champions League quarter-final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain last month.
United are still some way from reaching an agreement to sign Sancho from Borussia Dortmund. Although United made progress in talks over Sancho's salary and the agent's fees last week, there is a 'fundamental gap' between both parties that has caused an impasse.
United are also adamant they will not meet Dortmund's €120million valuation in an up-front fee before the transfer window closes on October 5.
Even though the window is open for just three more weeks United are persisting with their efforts to sign Sancho, 20, after they earmarked the right wing as their priority position to strengthen this summer.
United's preference is to negotiate a deal comprised of add-ons for Sancho and they have refused to give up on signing him after Dortmund insisted Sancho would stay at the club. United have been frustrated by the slow pace of negotiations with Sancho's agent Emeka Obasi and intermediary Marco Lichtsteiner, brother of former Juventus and Arsenal defender Stephan.
United have not been deterred by comments from the Dortmund coach Lucien Favre, who said 'everyone is happy that [Sancho] stayed'.
