Man Utd want 'next Pogba' in free transfer as Fernandes link gives advantage

Manchester United want Benfica starlet Cher Ndour who is out of contract next year.

United are ready to battle with Juventus to land teenager Ndour, who is an Italian under-20 international. The Serie A side see the midfielder as an heir to 29-year-old French international Paul Pogba. They hope Brescia-born Ndour, 18, will want to join his idol, Pogba, in Turin at the end of the season.

But 6ft 3in Ndour has the same agent as Bruno Fernandes and they are open to a move to United. A summer switch is increasingly likely for talented midfielder Ndour, who was snapped up by Atalanta from Bergamo after starting at his local club Brescia.

Ndour later moved to Portugal in 2020 and at 16 years and 279 days became the youngest ever debutant for Benfica B. He took the record from Joao Felix, who made his debut for the B team aged 16 years and 312 days on December 17, 2016, against Freamunde.

Ndour is yet to play for Benfica's first team but was this year among the 100 nominees for the Golden Boy 2022 award, which was won by Barcelona 's Gavi. And it's also the LaLiga giants who United could find themselves competing with in January, as Barcelona have been credited with interest.

Erik ten Hag has been using the World Cup break to plan for the long term at Old Trafford, with central midfield an area of focus since his arrival in June. The Red Devils boss was desperate to land former Ajax prodigy Frenkie de Jong, but instead signed Christian Eriksen on a free transfer from Brentford and splashed out around £60million on Real Madrid stalwart Casemiro.

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Ten Hag's primary focus in January will be on signing a new striker after the club acrimoniously terminated Cristiano Ronaldo 's contract. Asked by the Athletic during United's warm-weather training camp in Spain last week whether the Red Devils were looking to replace Ronaldo, Ten Hag replied: "Yes, but only when we find the right player.

"We will do everything in our power. We are doing research at every opportunity and we will do everything we can (to sign them) if that opportunity is there."

Probed specifically about PSV Eindhoven 's Cody Gakpo, who enjoyed a spectacular World Cup with the Netherlands, he added: "I cannot give comments on specific players. I will never do that. Players have contracts and I respect that but be sure we are working in the background to get the right players in."

The January transfer window will open on New Years' Day before closing on Tuesday, January 31.