Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is hopeful that Amad Diallo will be able to officially join the club during the January transfer window.
The Red Devils revealed on transfer deadline day in October that they had agreed a move for the 18-year-old, but the switch depended on Diallo receiving a work permit.
Diallo was born in the Ivory Coast before moving to Italy at a young age, and a recent report claimed that United had still not finalised a deal for the attacker.
However, Solskjaer is hopeful that the move will be signed off in the early stages of 2021.
"Amad has come on a few times for Atalanta lately, he is a very exciting young boy and talent and hopefully we'll get the work permit and he'll be with us in January. A very, very exciting boy as well," Solskjaer told reporters.
Diallo has made two first-team appearances for his Italian club during the 2020-21 campaign, including 22 minutes against FC Midtjylland in the Champions League at the start of December.
The right-sided forward has scored once in five outings for Atalanta in all competitions.
Matt Law
