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Manchester United initially faced competition from Brentford and River Plate to sign Christian Ordonez.
Is Christian Ordonez moving to Manchester United? (X)
Serie A side Bologna FC have reportedly joined Manchester United in the race to sign Velez Sarsfield midfielder Christian Ordonez. The Red Devils initially faced competition from Premier League counterparts Brentford and Argentinean side River Plate for the dynamic youngster. Now, La Gazzetta dello Sport has reported that Bologna is looking to swoop in Ordonez in the winter transfer window. As per the report, the Serie A outfit is confident that the youngster’s former teammate Santiago Castro could help persuade the midfielder to turn down interest from other suitors. They hope that Castro can convince Ordonez to make the same move he did, especially after settling particularly well in the Italian top flight in his first few months.
Christian Odorez’s contract with Velez Sarsfield is set to end in December this year. A release clause of $10 million may have to be met to secure the young midfielder’s services. Velez Sarfield has quite been firm on their asking price for the 20-year-old talent. Bologna would now be looking to overcome their resistance by offering a higher sum than the set fee, with the possibility of paying the amount in instalments. The deal would also reportedly include a sell-on clause. Moreover, the Rossoblu will also look to offshore the likes of Nikola Moro and Oussama El Azzouri to make room for the midfield talent. Bologna’s Kacper Urbanski could also be on the move with Aston Villa interested in signing him.
Christian Ordonez can operate in central midfield but is also capable of making an impact in deeper pockets. It is the same area where Manchester United have a few options to choose from currently. Manuel Ugarte, Casemiro and Kobbie Mainoo are the three primary options at Ruben Amorim’s disposal. However, Casemiro could soon be on his way away from Old Trafford. This has led to Manchester United looking for reinforcements. Ordonez has featured in 70 matches across competitions for Velez Sarsfield. He has scored once while providing an assist six times.
A Premier League move will likely be a step up for Christian Ordonez. Joining Bologna could also prove to be a bright prospect with the club sitting seventh in Serie A. The Red Devils are currently struggling in the English top flight, sitting in 13th place whereas Bologna has a much better chance of playing in the Champions League next season.