Guillermo Varela
Varela linked with Serie A loan move.

Serie A outfit Torino are keen to take Manchester United full back Guillermo Varela on loan until the end of the season, reports in Italy suggest.

The Uruguayan defender sealed his move to Old Trafford during the summer in a move which was most likely instigated under Sir Alex Ferguson's regime, after the youngster impressed the club during trials last season.

The 20-year-old provided stellar performances for Warren Joyce's Under-21 side in the first half of the season before he was granted leave after his parents were involved in a car crash in his homeland at the end of 2013.

Reports in the Italian media suggest Varela will return to Europe at the end of the month where he will complete a loan move to Torino, who are themselves enjoying an impressive campaign that sees them sat seventh in Serie A.

The defender was linked with possible loan moves to Argentine giants Boca Juniors and his former club Atletico Penarol earlier in the season. But Italian newspaper La Stampa suggest Torino are now favourites to secure the youngster's signature, and hope to strike a deal that will see the player make a loan switch with the option for a permanent deal in the summer.

Reports in the Uruguayan media earlier this month however suggested that both Varela and United were keen to secure a loan move back to Uruguay to allow the youngster to remain close to his parents following their accident, but there has yet to be any confirmation of any deal.

United paid Penarol £2.4 million for Varela during the summer transfer window as he became the first official signing of the Moyes era. After impressing for Uruguay in last summer's Under-20 World Cup – where he started seven games as his country finished runners up – he found a regular starting place in the under-21 side but has yet to be included in a first team squad.

Varela was the first of three signings in what was a quiet summer at Old Trafford and was later joined by Marouane Fellaini and Swiss teenager Saidy Janko.

David Moyes has already sanctioned a loan move for Anderson, who has joined Fiorentina until the end of the season, while Fabio da Silva has been heavily linked with a temporary swich to Bundesliga side Freiburg or Cardiff City.