Football
Tom Marshall, Mexico correspondent 8y

Hirving Lozano focused on Copa amid rumoured Manchester United interest

LOS ANGELES -- Mexico and Pachuca starlet Hirving Lozano is in the dark about a potential transfer to Manchester United or any other European club, even as his club suggest a move is increasing likely.

"I'm relaxed, [Pachuca] hasn't told me anything," said Lozano in a news conference in L.A. ahead of Mexico's Copa America Centenario group match on Thursday against Jamaica. "After the tournament, we'll see. First, I just want to concentrate on this tournament."

Pachuca's sporting vice president Andres Fassi told ESPN ahead of Wednesday's Liga MX draft that "there are options" and even suggested that it would be hard to keep 20-year-old rising star Lozano ahead of the Apertura 2016 tournament.

"We want him to stay but sometimes it is difficult to believe that he will remain if important things come up," stated Fassi, adding that the club wants Lozano to be focused on the Copa America and the Olympic Games in August.

Fassi has previously said that there is a confidentiality agreement with 12 teams in place, adding that three teams are better-situated to sign Lozano than the others.

ESPN's Rene Tovar reported on Tuesday that one of the teams interested is Manchester United, with whom Los Tuzos have maintained a good relationship. It was reported in April that the Red Devils had sent chief scout Jim Lawlor to Mexico to look at Lozano and other Pachuca prospects Rodolfo Pizarro and Erick Gutierrez.

Pachuca sporting director Marco Garces told ESPN FC late last year that he regularly visits England and that he has an established history with United. He previously alerted the club to Mexican striker Javier Hernandez, who went on to sign for the Old Trafford club from Chivas de Guadalajara in 2010.

Lozano won the Liga MX's Clausura 2016 championship with Pachuca, scoring eight goals in 23 matches from his left wing position.

The rapid and direct "Chucky" -- as he is known in Mexico -- made his national team debut earlier this year against Senegal and was a key performer in Mexico's 3-0 victory over Canada last March, after which El Tri coach Juan Carlos Osorio piled praise on the youngster.

"His speed and ability to go past [opponents] will take him far," said Osorio. "Lozano has a great desire to learn with the national team.

"His strength is that he is a very low-key, low profile, very down to earth [person] and I think will go very far. Not only is he a very good player with the potential to be an outstanding player, he is also a very good human being."

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