Man Utd close to beating rivals Tottenham, Arsenal to transfer coup

Manchester United are reportedly close to completing the signing of highly-rated Sunderland striker Joe Hugill, beating Tottenham and Arsenal to the youngster.

The north London duo, along with the likes of Wolves and Leeds, have all expressed a strong interest in landing the 16-year-old this summer, but the Manchester Evening News claims that United are poised to sign the teenager for £300,000.

Hugill, who does not turn 17-years-old until October, was also subject of interest from clubs in Germany although no concrete offers were made for the talented attacker.

Despite his tender age, Hugill has been making a real name for himself in Sunderland’s academy this season and scored twice on his debut for the Under-23s in the Premier League 2 loss to West Ham.

It is reported that United could include Hugill in their academy intake ahead of the 2020/21 campaign.

This is not the first time that United and Arsenal have gone head-to-head in a race to sign a young starlet from Sunderland, after the Gunners won the race to land England Under-18 star Sam Greenwood last year.

Meanwhile, United reportedly ‘no longer want’ to appoint a director of football despite links with a number of potential targets.

The Old Trafford club were said to be hoping to appoint their first-ever director of football before the end of last season, although that never materialised.

Names such as RB Leipzig’s Paul Mitchell, Ajax’s Edwin van der Sar and Atletico Madrid sporting director Berta have been bandied about over the past year or so but United’s hierarchy have still to make an appointment.

And now a report in The Athletic claims that ‘such a precise role is not on the agenda anymore’ as ‘United do not seek a guru to lead policy for signings, nor will anybody come in to take ownership of who sits in the dugout.’ Read more…