Manchester United are interested in Real Betis winger Luiz Henrique, who has dazzled following his move from his Brazilian homeland last summer.

Having made a steady start in La Liga, Henrique has offered glimpses of the supreme dribbling ability that could be channelled and refined over the coming years, and United manager Erik ten Hag's interest has consequently been piqued.

According to reports in Spain, Arsenal and the Red Devils are considering rivalling Aston Villa for the gem's signature, with the Villans running their attention to the wily winger after seeing a bid for Athletic Bilbao's Nico Williams rebuffed.

The report from the Spanish outlet continues that while the South American starlet holds a release clause of €100m (£88m), a bid within the region of £44m would be sufficient in compelling the Heliopolitans to cash in.

Bye-bye Sancho?

Henrique is at the maiden period of his career on the European scene, but he has certainly raised a few eyebrows following his initial endeavours.

Having made 24 appearances for his current team, starting 17, the 22-year-old has scored three goals and served five assists, but it is the quality of his overall play that is attracting interest from some of the Premier League's most prominent names.

As per Sofascore, he has recorded an impressive average rating of 7.18 in the Europa League, where he has scored two goals and assists apiece from just three starts, averaging 2.3 shots per game and making one key pass, also offering a glimpse into his defensive capability with 1.5 tackles each outing.

Speaking of his protective skills when under pressure, Henrique ranks within the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers in Europe's big five leagues for tackles, the top 9% for blocks and the top 17% for interceptions, which would add a layer of resilience that could be a difference-maker when United require a defensive emphasis in the definitive moments of the campaign.

If his signature is indeed acquired, beating Villa and the Gunners to the deal, Ten Hag could issue a ruthless shift across the offensive ranks by replacing the beleaguered Jason Sancho with a deal for the phenom.

Sancho has fallen well below expectations since arriving at Old Trafford from German giants Borussia Dortmund for a lucrative £73m in 2021, having only registered 12 direct contributions from 52 appearances.

And with the "spectacular" Henrique - as lauded by scout Jacek Kulig - earning plaudits for his dynamism and seamless offensive flow, his arrival would not bode well for the Englishman if he was indeed to earn a place in the Theatre of Dreams' squad.

In the words of reporter Dean Jones, Henrique "makes things happen", and thus, would be a breath of fresh life at Old Trafford. Indeed, he could be that direct conduit that will boost United's attempts to flourish with their progressive, transitional play, and while Sancho certainly boasts an abundance of natural talent and flair, if he cannot pull the strings into place, Henrique would be the perfect alternative.