A MANCHESTER UNITED scout was in France last night keeping a close eye on Moussa Dembele and Boubakary Soumare.
Dembele is the 23-year-old Lyon striker for whom Man Utd are reportedly readying a £43million bid.
And he was probably the more impressive of the two in the French League Cup semi-final clash.
Dembele scored his side’s opener from the spot and converted another penalty in the shoot-out to send his side into the final following a 2-2 draw in normal time.
United scouts were also present when ex-Celtic star Dembele scored and notched an assist in the 4-3 win over Nantes.
Lille midfielder Soumare, 20, is also of interest to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side.
Fred has been rejuvenated this season but the manager remains without the injured Paul Pogba and Scott McTominay and is looking for cover.
It is Dembele who looks the more appealing of the two, though, with PSG star Edinson Cavani also of interest.
And arguably the need to get another forward in place for the injured Marcus Rashford – who could be out for up to three months with a double stress fracture in the back – is a more pressing concern.
That is despite Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas saying the France international “wants to stay to win something with Lyon”.
But their own transfer activity this month shows things could be different behind the scenes.
This month the Ligue 1 club have signed striker Karl Toko Ekambi from Villarreal.
And according to Sky Sports they are also in talks with Le Havre over their forward Tino Kadewere.
United’s move for Bruno Fernandes appears to have hit a wall.
That could tempt them to go for Soumare instead.
Fernandes was last night shown snubbing Sporting Lisbon fans, shoving a camera and arguing with a policeman during his side’s defeat by Braga.
