Manchester United winger edging towards January loan deal

Cameron Smith

• Updated: 17 May 2021 19:42 BST
• 2 min read

Manchester United and Alaves have begun discussions over a potential loan move for winger Facundo Pellistri.

Pellistri, who joined United from CA Penarol for £9m in October, is yet to make a senior appearance for the Red Devils, but has scored three times and assisted once in eight U23 games.

Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is said to have been extremely impressed with Pellistri’s start to life in England, and believes a loan move is exactly what the Uruguayan needs to further his development.

Both Alaves and Club Brugge are reported to be interested, and whilst the Belgian outfit impressed Pellistri with their plans for him, it’s understood that the 19-year-old favours a move to Spain.

Alaves currently sit 18th in La Liga and having scored just 18 goals in 20 games, they see Pellistri as the answer to their current goalscoring issues.

In a press conference on Tuesday, Solskjaer revealed: “There have been talks and quite a few clubs interested in Facundo to go out on loan and that’s maybe something we’ll let him do now he’s had a few games in the reserves and we want him to have regular football at a high level.”

Whilst Pellistri is yet to play for the United first-team, he has been training with them regularly, made the matchday squad against both Paris Saint-Germain and Istanbul Basaksehir in the Champions League, and was in contention to start against Watford in the FA Cup, before testing positive for coronavirus.

Pellistri has been pushed even further down the pecking order thanks to new signing Amad Diallo, and his wish to play in La Liga may seal the deal for Alaves to secure his signature.

The lack of first-team opportunities presented to him is of no great surprise given his age and lack of experience, but for both the player and the club, a loan move away could be the perfect solution.