Bharath Rammr
Manchester United are not just after players like Victor Lindelof, who would be costing close to £ 40 million, as it appears that the club have agreed to take Livingston striker Matthew Knox on a trial at Manchester United. Scottish outfit Livingston are extremely hopeful that Knox will remain at the club, but it is becoming increasingly unlikely with interest from some of the top clubs in the world like Manchester United. The Red Devils are not the only interested party, as the likes of Tottenham, Liverpool, and Everton are also taking a look at the 17-year-old.
He has been on trials at various English clubs of late. Livingston manager David Hopkin recently claimed that Knox was a talent of world-class potential. The Scottish outfit could receive a substantial transfer fee for the player should his move to United go ahead. The Red Devils already have a number of young striker’s waiting in the line to take over from players like Wayne Rooney and Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Yet, none of them have been as prolific as the latter this season. Ibrahimovic has taken his goal tally to 12 for the league campaign with the effort against Sunderland on Boxing Day.
Some of the young strikers at United like Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial have really struggled for form this season. They have scored just four league goals between them in more than 1200 minutes of action. It is clear that manager José Mourinho is not entirely happy with the forward line up at the club. Yet, it is not preventing the club from following the tradition of promoting youngsters from within. They will have to splash with pretty heavily on Knox if they are to prize him away from Livingston.
The player has not only attracted the attention of Premier League clubs, but it is reported that Scottish giant Rangers also came in with a £ 75,000 offer which was rejected instantly by the League One outfit. It is rumoured that an offer in the region of £150,000 would be enough to persuade the club to sell the star asset. The club are in a strong position considering that the player only recently signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with the club a few weeks ago.
Speaking about the impressive progress that the striker has made this season, Livingston manager Hopkin said:
“It’s a great honour for him to be training with the team and be invited down again. He must have done something to impress him last time. He’s handled everything great here and he’s a real talent.”
Manchester United have been heavily linked with youngsters around the world, but the interest is especially high when it comes to British talent. It remains to be seen if the big spending era at the club will prevent the emergence of new youngsters from the academy. And If everything goes according to the plan for the youngster, it is expected that he will sign a contract with Manchester United in the next few weeks.
