Inter Milan have reportedly identified Manchester United midfielder Donny van de Beek as a leading transfer target ahead of the winter window.
The 25-year-old returned to the Red Devils over the summer after a loan spell at Everton, with the midfielder once again playing under Erik ten Hag, who coached the Netherlands international at Ajax.
Van de Beek has only played 19 minutes of football this season, though, with a number of players ahead of him in the pecking order for the roles in midfield.
A disappointing spell at Old Trafford has seen the Dutchman, who still has three years left to run on his contract, manage just two goals and two assists in 53 appearances in all competitions.
According to Fichajes, Inter have identified Van de Beek as the ideal signing during the winter market, with the Italian giants preparing to make an offer at the start of 2023.
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The report claims that Inter boss Simone Inzaghi has personally requested the signing, with the club viewing him as a cheaper alternative to Lazio's Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.
Van de Beek recently opened up on the competition for places at Man United, with the midfielder impressed by his side's summer transfer business.
"That will help everyone. Having lots of options will keep everyone sharp, and for this we need lots of good players," Van de Beek told the United Review.
"I think it's great to play many games. I love it when we play after a few days [another] game. I prefer more to have games than training sessions, so definitely I like it!
"I know them already, as a player. Some of the players I played against – I played against Christian [Eriksen], against Casemiro as well, with Ajax. Licha [Lisandro Martinez], I played together with him.
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"So I know what they are capable of and they are really good players, so they will help us for sure. They are nice people, but they are also team players. I think this is important, to work hard together. As people, they fit very well with the players we have."
Van de Beek also said that he was "feeling positive" about the rest of the season, but the midfielder has recently been unavailable for selection due to a knock.
"I'm really working hard for it, so I'm positive. I'll do my best. The last part of last season, I was injured, so I missed a lot," the former Ajax playmaker added.
"I could feel that in the first few weeks of pre-season, but now I've started to feel better and better. So I'm really positive."
Van de Beek has not been in the squad for any of the team's last three games against Arsenal, Real Sociedad and Sheriff Tiraspol, with his last appearance in the squad coming against Leicester City on September 1.
Matt Law
