Sources suggest that Manchester United are ahead Ajax in terms of an offer for FC Nordsjaelland forward Kamaldeen Sulemana.
It has been revealed that a United delegation had jetted out to Denmark for talks over the potential transfer of the Ghana international to Old Trafford.
A Manchester United source has said that they have been made aware by Nordsjaelland chiefs that Dutch giants Ajax have submitted a bid worth £12m in total for Sulemana.
The Premier League giants are expected to beat that offer in the race for the signature of the 19-year-old. The Glazers might feel a little pressured into investing heavily this transfer window following the backlash from the fans for “not caring” about the club and their hostile attempt in setting up a breakaway Super League with 11 other European powerhouses in club football.
Manchester United, however, have made the capture of the teen star a top priority after assessing him and scouting the youngster extensively this season.
Discussions with Nordsjaelland chairman Tom Vernon – the former United scout – were taking place to accelerate a deal.
The Glazers have to do much more than sign top players to appease Manchester United fans. (Photo by Andy Barton/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
The Danish club are expecting £15m for the young attacker, who can play down the middle or out wide, and you would expect United to match that and not try to get into a bidding war.
Ajax are Manchester United’s closest competitors for Sulemana and their director of football Marc Overmars was in the front row last week to watch him in action.
The 20-times English champions are only too aware of how the recently-crowned Dutch Eredivisie champions beat them to the signing of another Ghanian youngster, Mohammed Kudus, last year, and they will not want to see a repeat of that.
Under the new post-Brexit transfer rules, however, Sulemana does not have enough points to gain a work permit.
That could change this summer if the Danish league climbs one place in the UEFA coefficients, which would then see him meet the new UK points regulations, or Sulemana makes one more competitive appearance for Ghana.
The second is likely to happen as long as he gets called up for the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers but with the delayed start, it could be an agonising wait for the Ghanaian.
The teenager, who joined Nordsjaelland in February of last year, has scored ten goals and supplied seven assists in 28 appearances for the Danish outfit this term.
Last season’s transfer window was terrible for the Red Devils as they failed in their pursuit of Jadon Sancho who has been heavily linked to them once again. The Glazers have lots of work to do in the transfer market to have a chance of challenging for the Premier League title next season.
