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29 March 2024

Man Utd to battle Spurs for 18-yr old Powell

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson made a personal check on Nick Powell. (FILE)

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By Staff

Manchester United are renewing their interest in 18-year-old attacking midfielder Nick Powell.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson took time out from the title race to make a personal check on the Crewe wunder kid as he starred for the League Two play-off semi-finalists, according to the Mirror.

The United chief has been told to sign Powell, who has hit 15 goals this term, by his scouts, and he watched him with coach Mike Phelan so he can make an early bid.

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Powell was the target of Premier League bidders in the last transfer window, with the Railwaymen rejecting offers.

Spurs are still favourites for Powell, with Arsenal and Chelsea also keen keen but Ferguson hopes he will be able to land the starlet.

However, although Powell is intent in moving on this summer, he would prefer a smaller team that could give him the chance to progress and not get lost in the system, the report added.

Man Utd lose Pogba… and Hazard could be next

It is not often that a teenager turns his back on an offer from Manchester United. That too, to join Juventus, given that the Italian giants have been struggling in recent years.

However, that’s exactly what Paul Pogba has done.

The player that was being touted as United’s future Patrick Viera has turned down a lucrative contract at Old Trafford to join the Italian outfit.

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His decision was made known in a letter from his agent Mino Raiola to United chief executive David Gill, but there has been no contact between Pogba, 19, and United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

It is the first of many shocks that Sir Alex fears United will be facing, especially as rivals Manchester City will be on hand to outbid and outbuy United this summer.

Fergie’s two main targets Tottenham’s Luka Modric and Eden Hazard of Lille, are also being tracked by City.

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Ferguson was quoted in the British press on Saturday saying: “No one can match City’s financial power, no one. The transfer market has been insane for a while and I think clubs like City create that.

“They can buy all the players, and put a marker on all the players, it makes it difficult then for clubs to be reasonable.

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“There’s no doubt we’ll be bringing players in. Maybe two or three, it depends on the kind of market we’re dealing with. We have to accept the situation, so we do it a different way.

“We will try and look at younger players with the potential to develop at the club. That is what we are good at. Scholes and Giggs are coming to the end. Players like them don’t fall off trees.”

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Pogba was rated one of the best young products in the club’s academy, which he joined from Le Havre in 2009.

He made his Premier League debut against Stoke City in January.