MANCHESTER UNITED are set to sign wonderkid Sekou Kone, according to reports.
The 18-year-old will travel to Old Trafford for a medical next week.
Man Utd have supposedly beaten several other top clubs in the race to sign him, with reporter Fabrizio Romano claiming they will pay £1million plus add-ons for the player.
Kone is seen as one for the future and he has been described as a “smart investment”.
He is likely to join-up with United‘s youth-team this season.
The central midfielder has been snapped up from Guidars FC in his homeland of Mali.
And he could have caught the eye of scouts at last year’s Under-17s World Cup as he helped his country finish third and beat Argentina.
Kone started his career at the famous JMG academy in the Mali’s capital Bamako.
His move to the Premier League will seen him follow in the footsteps of his compatriot Yves Bissouma.
The Tottenham star also graduated from the JMG academy before moving to Europe.
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But despite his similar path to Bissouma, Kone has instead been dubbed the “next Yaya Toure” by African media outlets.
And he is not the only wonderkid set to come through the door at United as the club near the signing of 16-year-old striker Chidozie Obi-Martin from Arsenal.
MANCHESTER UNITED plan to build a new stadium rather than redevelop Old Trafford.
The decision was made after a number of fact-finding missions to other stadiums including the Bernabeu and Nou Camp.
The cost of the project is expected to be a staggering £2billion.
A capacity of 100,000 is expected.
It is felt that a club of United’s standing should have a new state-of-the-art facility.
The new stadium will be built on land adjacent to the Red Devils’ current home.
United are looking to not only build a stadium but regenerate the area of Trafford where the ground will stand.
They plan to KEEP Old Trafford rather than demolish it, and use it as a second venue.
They will scale it down to a 30,000-seater that can then be used for the women’s team and academy matches.
That would mean the history remains with statues and the Munich clock and memorial plaque all most likely staying in their current positions.
The club consulted with 30,000 fans about what to do and believe there is roughly a 50-50 split on staying or moving.
Old Trafford has been United’s home since 1910.
The target is for completion by 2030.
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