Manchester United are believed to be keeping tabs on Sassuolo midfielder, Davide Frattesi, as manager Erik ten Hag looks to bolster his options in the centre of the park.

What's the word?

That's according to transfer insider Dean Jones - speaking to GIVEMESPORT - who revealed that the 23-year-old is one of the players that the Old Trafford outfit have been keeping an eye on, ahead of the January window.

The respected source stated: “I don’t think we can really compare him to Frenkie de Jong, and I don’t think I’d be looking at him along those sorts of lines, but they’re scouting him.

“But we have to consider United scout a lot of people, as does every club, it’s just one of those leaks that gets out that the club have been watching him.”

This follows recent reports that suggest the Italy international is a target for the Red Devils - as well as fellow Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur - with any move set to come at a cost of around £30m.

Fred upgrade

As Jones alluded to, young Frattesi may not be the calibre of long-term target Frenkie de Jong, although he could well prove to be a real upgrade on Ten Hag's current options, including the much-maligned figure that is Fred.

The Brazilian ace - who is currently representing his country at the World Cup - has no doubt produced enjoyed impressive, standout performances since his £52m switch to England back in 2018, although the 29-year-old has simply been unable to find any real level of consistency in that time.

The former Shakhtar Donetsk man notably sparkled in the win over Spurs last month after getting on the scoresheet, although his inability to maintain that level of performance has been simply infuriating at times, with pundit Roy Keane notably dubbing him "not good enough" to play for the club.

The suggestion is that the United boss agrees with that sentiment amid reports that the experienced figure - who has started just four top-flight games this season - could be allowed to leave when his contract expires at the end of the season, opening the door for a new midfield addition to take his place in the squad.

Turning to the aforementioned Frattesi could well be an ideal solution both due to his youth and his quality in the final third, with the £22k-per-week ace having already scored four times in just 15 Serie A games this season, after previously registering four goals and four assists last term.

That is a far more impressive record than that of Fred who has just one goal to his name this season - and only nine in total in 173 games for the club - while the Italian dynamo also arguably offers more in possession as he ranks in the top 16% in Europe's top five leagues for dribbles completed among those in his position, while the United dud ranks in just the top 31% for that same metric.

The Rome-born ace - who has previously spent time on loan in Serie B with the likes of Ascoli, Empoli and Monza - may be something of a wildcard pick for those at the Theatre of Dreams, although it is clear to see the impact he is having in his current surroundings.

With it perhaps time for Fred's stint in Manchester to come to an end, Frattesi could well be a notable upgrade.