Transfer News: Manchester United ahead of Barcelona in pursuit of Benoit Badiashile

Manchester United are reportedly leading the chase for highly-rated AS Monaco youngster Benoit Badiashile, who is also a target for Barcelona and several others.

According to French publication L’Equipe, AS Monaco will have to be wary of the advances of other top clubs, this time in case of one of their young gems that is yet to make the senior grade. 16-year-old Benoit Badiashile is a summer target for Barcelona, Manchester United, Juventus, Manchester City and many others.

Manchester United had, in fact, submitted a formal proposal to sign the AS Monaco star last summer, only to be refuted by the Ligue 1 outfit in swift fashion. Since then, the likes of Barcelona, Manchester City and Juventus have joined the chase for the defender, who is tipped to be the latest gem to emerge in the French footballing scene.

Benoit Badiashile is a 16-year-old defender who has progressed through the ranks at Monaco. While being eligible to represent both Congo and France, the player has thus far, chosen the latter, featuring up until the Under-17s for France.

Badiashile, despite being just 16, is attracting a big crowd of clubs, with their representatives likely to have sent back glaring reports from his performance in the UEFA Youth League this season, wherein he has featured 5 times for AS Monaco.

Barcelona are looking to reinforce their youth squads, which has depleted to an extent, with several youngsters choosing to join other top clubs in order for a faster track to the first-team, the latest being Sergio Gomez, who joined Borussia Dortmund. Also, one of the priority points on their agenda, is the succession plan for Gerard Pique.

At Manchester United, priority has been given to youth recruitment over the last couple of years, with the arrival of several future superstars, all of whom are now part of the club’s Under-18 squad. The recruitment has continued, with the club recently announcing the capture of goalkeeper Matej Kovar from FC Slovacko.

Indeed, along with Kovar, the club is looking to bring in better youngsters to shore up their defence, an area that has given Kieran McKenna’s Under-18 side some headaches, with the club managing just 1 clean sheet in 13 games in the Under-18 Premier League North so far this season.

Thus, Badiashile could really be a valuable addition to the squad at Manchester United, who are reportedly still in the lead over Barcelona and other suitors for the youngster. Badiashile has so far opted to stick with AS Monaco and progress at the club.

But, the advances of Manchester United could have an effect on the 16-year-old by the end of the season. And we might just see Badiashile become the latest up-and-coming star to join the ranks at Manchester United, which will be a coup for the club, considering the interest from Barcelona, Manchester City, Juventus and others.

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