MANCHESTER UNITED have tied young defender Luca Ercolani down to a new one-year contract extension.
The 20-year-old Italian centre-back has impressed in the academy after joining in 2016.
Ercolani joined the Red Devils from Serie D side Forli following a successful trial and went on to make six appearances for the academy in his debut season.
He has since become an important part of the youth side becoming a mainstay in the team until he suffered a ruptured cruciate ligament injury.
Ercolani’s contract was due to expire this summer but the club opted to trigger a one-year extension, according to journalist Simon Peach.
United will be keen to nurse Ercolani back to full fitness before looking into the possibility of sending him out on loan next season.
Ercolani was spotted by United scout David Williams who also encouraged the club to sign Federico Macheda and Giuseppe Rossi.
Meanwhile United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will pass on the chance to sign playmaker Philippe Coutinho.
The Barcelona star has been offered to the Premier League side following his loan stint at Bayern Munich.
