Man Utd could face Mason Greenwood in September if £30m transfer goes through

Lazio have reportedly accelerated their long-standing interest in Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood by submitting a £30million bid. Talks over a summer switch are progressing, and if successful, Greenwood could face off against his boyhood club as early as September.

According to the Mail, the 22-year-old also has suitors in Germany, Portugal and Spain, and Lazio’s opening offer is set to ignite the battle for his signature.

But the Serie A club are said to be ready to go close to United’s £40m valuation by including performance-related add-ons and will hope their early swoop will hand them the advantage.

If Greenwood completes a transfer to Lazio, it might not be long before the Red Devils are pitted against the talent they’ve developed since the age of six.

United and Lazio have both booked their spot in next season’s Europa League group stage, which commences at the end of September.

Lazio finished seventh in Serie A last term, securing the final Europa League spot thanks to Italy’s UEFA coefficient rewarding the top-flight five Champions League places.

Meanwhile, United’s eighth-place Premier League finish left them outside of the European spots entirely. However, FA Cup glory against Manchester City earned last-gasp qualification.

Both clubs are projected to be in pot one for the group stage, which would have previously left them apart until the knockout stages.

But UEFA’s new Swiss model for all three major European competitions will form a 36-team league featuring eight games, four at home and four away.

United will have two games against pot one teams, which could see them drawn against Lazio and Greenwood if he moves to Rome.

Whether the former Red Devils No. 11 would be interested in landing at the Stadio Olympico amid reported heavyweight rival interest remains to be seen.

Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Benfica, Borussia Dortmund, Juventus and Napoli are among those credited with an interest.

But Lazio attempted to sign Greenwood last summer before he joined Getafe on a season-long loan on deadline day.

That may have sparked a relationship with the player’s camp, potentially adding to their advantage from making their move early.

European clubs can’t complete signings until July 1, though, which could help Lazio’s rivals strengthen their position in the race for Greenwood’s services.

It looks increasingly likely that the United academy graduate will be the first major sale of the first transfer window under INEOS’ regime.