Sources: Man United make contact over Omar Marong deal
Manchester United have made contact over a potential deal for Gambian teen sensation Omar Marong, sources have told Football Insider.
United have made an enquiry for Marong, who has come through the TMT Football Academy in Gambia.
La Liga side Celta Vigo are also interested in Marong, along with Portuguese duo Benfica and Sporting CP as well as sides from Germany, France and Scandinavia.
The 16-year-old midfielder has impressed a number of European suitors after captaining Gambia's Under-17 national team to success at the WAFU Zone A U-17 tournament earlier this month.
A host of clubs had scouts watching top young talents at the tournament in Dakar, and Marong enhanced his growing reputation with a number of impressive performances.
The teenager's displays and potential have alerted Europe's top clubs, who recognise Marong as one of the most talented midfielders in his age group.
Why are Man United interested in signing Omar Marong?
Man United are working hard to improve their youth set-up, and have been proactive in trying to sign some of the world's best young talents in recent years.
The Red Devils see Marong as a potential star in the making, and they are ready to move quickly for the midfielder in an attempt to ward off potential interest from rival clubs.
He could follow in the footsteps of former TMT Football Academy graduate Ebrim Fofana, who moved to Austrian football and now plays in Finland, where club are interested in Marong.
However, Man United are determined to beat their rivals to the midfielder and believe they are his best destination to develop into a top player should he make the move to Europe.
His performances at the WAFU Tournament have placed top clubs on alert, and after scouts were impressed by what they saw, plans are being put in place to bring Marong to Old Trafford.
Which other Gambia stars have impressed top clubs?
Marong is not the only player who caught the eye as part of this impressive generation of Gabian talents, with scouts in attendance to watch them win the WAFU Zone A U017 Tournament.
Football Insider exclusively revealed on 18 September that Chelsea scouts were also in attendance, and the Blues are now readying a move to sign midfielder Adama Jeng.
Jeng, who turns 16 in December, is regarded as one of the most promising talents in African football and has caught the eye of scouts from leading European clubs.
The midfielder came through the Samger FC academy, a club which has a strong track record in developing young talents who have gone on to play in Europe.
The likes of Bayern Munich, Benfica, Sporting and Paris FC, along with Chelsea, are all understood to have been monitoring Jeng at the WAFU tournament in Dakar.