Manchester City are in pole position to sign Metz whizkid Pape Sarr, who is also a target for cross-town rivals Manchester United.
According to journalist Jonathan Shrager, Manchester City are leading Manchester United in pursuit of Pape Sarr. The Metz youngster is expected to leave the club in the summer following a breakthrough campaign last term and it is the English champions who are in pole position to secure his services.
It is an interesting development given the fact that Manchester United were reportedly poised to make an offer for the midfielder a few days ago. He is apparently valued at £28 million by Metz, which is quite a fortune for an 18-year-old.
However, very few would dispute the price tag as Sarr was indeed one of the rising stars in Ligue 1 last season. A native of Senegal, he had initially joined Metz last summer for an undisclosed fee and after initially undergoing a slow start to his new life in France, he became a first-team regular during the backend of the campaign.
In fact, Sarr ended the 2020/21 Ligue 1 season with 22 appearances, scoring three goals. His dynamism and work ethic has caught the eye of Manchester City, who are in the market for a new midfielder. They have been linked with a sale of Bernardo Silva throughout the summer while Fernandinho is in the final stage of his career.
Their cross-town rivals Manchester United, too, are hoping to find a long-term replacement for Nemanja Matic. Coach Ole-Gunnar Solskjaer may also want to sign a competitor for Fred and Scott McTominay in an attempt to further enhance the overall quality of his squad.
The addition of someone like Pape Sarr could have been an ideal long-term investment for Manchester United. But with Manchester City leading the chase, it appears they have set their sights on Aurelien Tchouameni.
A product of the Bordeaux youth academy, the 21-year-old is another up and coming French midfield talent, who has garnered widespread attention for his quality on the ball. He should be an excellent option for Manchester United, although they are set to face stiff competition from another arch-rival in Liverpool.
It also remains to be seen whether the Red Devils can afford to spend big once again, though, having already roped in Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane so far this summer. But despite just two weeks remaining until the transfer window slams to a shut, business is certainly yet to be done at Old Trafford.