Manchester United look set to miss out on the chance of signing Ryan Gauld.
The exciting attacking midfielder is close to sealing a deal with Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon according to The Daily Mail.
The same source indicates that Dundee United have accepted a bid of £3 million from Sporting Lisbon and have given the player permission to discuss personal term with the club.
The BBC has also reported that the 18 year old was of interest to a number of clubs, with the likes of Real Madrid, Arsenal and Roma all having sent scouts to watch him play. However, it Manchester United who were most strongly linked with the youngster.
The player had previously spoken about his desire to play abroad rather than in The Premier League, saying:
‘In England, it’s more athletes. Being a smaller guy, I need to think about what’s best for me and what’s best around me and I think being abroad is the best culture of football for me.”
He also told the BBC: “I would like to think that I could go abroad maybe and see the lifestyle and culture over there,”
Gauld began his youth career at Scottish side Brechin City before moving to Dundee United in 2006. The 18 year old broke into the senior squad in 2012 and has established himself as an important figure in the side. He has amassed 50 appearances and 9 goals in all competitions in just two years, despite his young age.
The attacking midfielder has also played for Scotland at both U19 and U21 level, gaining 11 caps for the youth sides.
He is widely seen as an exciting prospect for the future thanks to excellent dribbling skill and ability to run at and pass defenders. His style of play has been likened to that of more technically minded players such as Messi and Iniesta.
We have a strong feeling that Manchester United will end up bidding 5 times as much for the player after he excels in Portugal.
Let’s see him in action. Manchester United fans: is the club missing a trick?
Spanish Red
Jul 1, 2014 at 7:20 pm
The answer to your question is very simple. United would rather spend 40million on a player like Di Maria, who I guarantee will be a total flop, than spend money on talented youngsters. When Gauld is 26 or 27 then United will express an interest in buying him, probably for 100 million by that time, who knows?
Ogungbe Barnabas
Jul 2, 2014 at 7:44 am
Young promising talent like Gauld shd be signed now, don’t miss the chance.
mckeen
Jul 2, 2014 at 11:29 am
i think it will be well for now to sign him
Adedeji moshood adeshola
Jul 2, 2014 at 2:34 pm
talent like gauld is the type of player united can achive 4rm them. Bx like united young in 1992, also u can even seen rooney and ronaldo. They are young promising for unied.
harl
Jul 2, 2014 at 3:56 pm
Just quit the act guys you all know we have better talents in United who haven’t got the chance yet what are the chances he won’t be like them cos in my opinion our young players are better than this guy.