Manchester United have reportedly submitted their first bid for Burnley midfielder Sander Berge.
The 26-year-old arrived to the Premier League as a major coup for Sheffield United during the January transfer window of 2020, when the Blades were threatening to break onto the European stage under Chris Wilder.
Despite playing a significant part in United's promotion-winning campaign of 2022-23 under Paul Heckingbottom, Berge crossed top-flight battlelines to join Burnley last summer.
Regardless of his best efforts during 37 Premier League appearances last term, the midfielder was unable to prevent Vincent Kompany's Clarets from suffering an immediate return to the Championship.
Linking up with footballing superstars such as Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard, Berge is a regular on the international stage, earning 46 caps for Norway since his senior debut in 2017.
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Man United 'submit' initial Berge offer
According to the Daily Mail, Manchester United have made their first official move in the pursuit of second-tier midfielder Berge this summer.
The report claims that the Red Devils have launched an initial bid for the 26-year-old, who started his professional career at Norwegian outfit Valerenga in 2015.
It is understood that Erik ten Hag's side are willing to pay in the region of £20m for Berge, although it is fully expected that United's first offer will be snubbed.
With aspirations to improve their own squad and return to the Premier League under the leadership of Scott Parker, Burnley are looking to pocket £30m from the sale of the towering midfielder.
It is believed that sorting out personal terms between Man United and Berge would not be an issue, with the former Bladesmen excited at the prospect of moving to the Theatre of Dreams on a £100,000-per-week deal.
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Is Berge a backup option for Man United?
Although Man United's interest in Berge is genuine, it is understood that the Red Devils would prefer to secure the services of Paris Saint-Germain's Manuel Ugarte instead.
The Uruguayan was omitted from PSG's squad for their Ligue 1 opener on the weekend amid intense links between the player and the Old Trafford club.
Demanding a hefty fee of £52m for the 23-year-old, Les Parisiens are driving a hard bargain as the Red Devils seek to bolster their midfield options.
United are keen to improve their ranks as speculation ramps up around the future of Scott McTominay, who is supposedly being targeted by Fulham.
Carter White
