MANCHESTER UNITED are closing in on the signing of Thiago Almada, according to the bookies.
Bookmakers Betfair have installed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side as 6/4 favourites to bring the Velez Sarsfield teenager to Old Trafford during the January transfer window.
Arsenal represent their biggest competition.
Mikel Arteta’s side are next in the betting market at 3/1 with rivals Manchester City even further back at 6s.
Spanish heavyweights Barcelona and Real Madrid are both double-figure prices at 10/1 and 14/1 respectively.
The Red Devils are looking to bolster their ranks in the winter window and will continue to place an emphasis on youth recruitment.
Teenagers Amad Diallo and Facundo Pellistri both arrived at the club over the past 12 months.
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And Almada could be the latest emerging talent to arrive at the Theatre of Dreams in the upcoming transfer window.
The 19-year-old was tipped to join Pep Guardiola at the Etihad last summer but the move broke down.
Now, fresh reports claim United are prepared to trigger a £23m release clause in Almada’s contract.
And they have already started the process with ‘advanced talks’ well underway, according to Todo Fichajes.
The attacking midfielder has already racked up 51 first-team appearances for Velez Sarsfield, scoring 12 goals and providing four assists.
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However, Leeds could perhaps throw a spanner in the works after Almada openly spoke of his admiration for Marcelo Bielsa.
He told TyC Sports: “I would like Bielsa to coach me.
“My friends sent me something about Bielsa, but I am calm. Whether it happens or not, we have to see.
“I don’t watch much soccer, but I saw some Leeds highlights and I saw something similar to what we did in Velez with (Gabriel) Heinze.”
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