Man Utd ‘to bid £34m for soccer’s hottest wonderkid’ in Barcelona switch battle
Manchester United have joined the race to sign ‘football’s hottest prospect’ as the Red Devils rival Barcelona and Manchester City for the signature of a 16-year-old wonderkid
Manchester United have joined the race to sign Eduardo Conceicao
Manchester United have joined the race alongside Barcelona and Manchester City to sign a 16-year-old wonderkid.
The Red Devils are set for a busy summer transfer window as Michael Carrick’s side look to get themselves over the line for Champions League qualification, with the chance to finish as the best of the rest behind Arsenal and Manchester City in the table.
A return to the Champions League will free up more funds on the transfer front and United are reportedly considering splashing the cash on Palmeiras prodigy Eduardo Conceicao. The attacker has suitors from all over Europe and United will have to overcome their rivals to land his signature.
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According to the Mail, United are preparing an official bid worth £34million in fixed terms with bonuses still to be defined. The Old Trafford outfit have already initiated contacts with the 16-year-old’s representatives and are working to formalise their proposal.
However, Palmeiras are said to be demanding a higher fee, with the club expecting to reach at least the £34m mark, rising beyond with add-ons.
United will have to rival Barcelona and City for his signature, while Newcastle saw an offer worth €25 million (£21.5m) plus €15 million (£12.9m) in bonuses rejected. PSG are also in the mix but are adopting a more cautious approach to the situation.
Conceicao’s representatives have met with several European clubs and his family have travelled to England and France to look at potential destinations. However, it’s said that Barcelona hold the most advantageous position due to the pull of sporting director Deco, who held direct talks with Palmeiras’ academy co-ordinator Joao Paulo Sampaio as part of the Catalan giant’s approach.
Another factor in any deal is the future of Palmeiras midfielder Allan, 22. A regular starter this season, Allan was the subject of a £30m bid from Napoli, but it was rejected. A potential sale could impact Palmeiras’ stance and asking price on Conceicao.
Conceicao became the third youngest player to ever play for Palmeiras, behind Endrick and Rodrigo Taddei, and before Estevao. He featured for Brazil at the South American U-17 Championship in Paraguay where he scored two goals and registered two assists in five matches as Brazil finished third.
Former Palmeiras Under-20 coach and current Brazil Under-20 assistant Lucas Andrade said on Conceicao: “Eduardo has the profile of a ball-carrying attacking midfielder.
“He can also play on the left, but his best performances come centrally, as a No 10. He is a dribbler who can break lines both with runs and vertical passes.”
“He has the characteristics for the Premier League. He combines technical quality with physical strength, speed and the ability to deal with contact, which is essential in such an intense league.”
