Manchester United are in advanced talks to sign Southampton teenage sensation Harley Emsden-James, according to United insider Sully.
The 16-year-old is also on the radar of the likes of Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal, but the Red Devils are now at the front of the queue and will be paying the Saints around £1 million in compensation.
Man United director of football Jason Wilcox has been a key figure in negotiations as the Old Trafford club look to get the deal over the line given his connection at the Championship club.
Emsden-James is a highly-rated England youth, and the Red Devils could be signing a player capable of establishing himself as a Premier League regular in the coming years.
The Southampton academy is widely recognised as one of the best in England and Europe, with the likes of Gareth Bale, Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Adam Lallana and Man United left-back Luke Shaw all emerging from the club’s youth ranks, and Emsden-James could be next.
The Red Devils have been strengthening their youth ranks recently by signing some of the best teenagers around, with Chido Obi and Ayden Heavens joining them from Arsenal a couple of months ago and quickly becoming part of the first-team.
The likes of Diego Leon, Sekou Kone and Enzo Kana-Biyik have also been snapped up and the Southampton academy graduate could be next in line.
Emsden-James has huge potential as he is comfortable on the ball and knows how to play out from the back, while he boasts great leadership quality and is very good when it comes to reading the game.
Man United will be recruiting a great addition to their youth ranks should the move be finalised given that the youngster is regarded as one of the best up and coming centre-backs for his age group in the land.