Man Utd are reportedly leading the race to sign Valencia youngster Ferhat Cogalan, but face competition for his signature from Arsenal.
The 15-year-old has been tipped for big things in the future having impressed through the youth level ranks at Valencia and attracted plenty of interest.
According to The Sun, Cogalan hasn’t yet signed a professional contract and so would be available for a nominal fee which is making the attacking midfielder an even more attractive proposition. Although, they will have to act quickly as he’ll be able to sign a pro deal when he turns 16.
It’s claimed that United have been keeping tabs on Cogalan for over a year, while former ace Phil Neville has recommended him to Old Trafford officials after his stint working at Valencia alongside his brother.
Further, the Red Devils have invited the young Turkish ace and his father Sedat to their Carrington training base as they begin to pull out the stops to convince him to join them rather than Arsenal or any other interested party.
AC Milan and Galatasaray are also mentioned in the report, but it seems as though Man Utd have made the early move and will be hopeful that they can get a deal done as part of their continued strategy to bolster their academy with top young talents with a number of youngsters arriving this past summer.
Cogalan is under contract with Valencia until 2021, but with no professional deal in place, it leaves the La Liga outfit in a vulnerable position which they’ll likely want to address in the coming months too to strengthen their own position if they are to lose Cogalan.