Manchester United set to miss out on rising Argentine star

Manchester United could be set to miss out on Velez Sarsfield attacker Thiago Almada, with rivals Manchester City hoping to pip Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side to the Argentine, reports The Sun on Sunday. 

The 19-year-old is one of the hottest young talents in Argentina having netted four times in the Argentine Superliga last season and his form yielding a WhoScored rating of 6.82. 

United have been courting Almada, but City boss Pep Guardiola has eyed the teenager as a successor for the experienced David Silva. 

Silva will leave City when his contract expires, though that is unlikely to be next month as the Coronavirus pandemic has suspended Premier League football and the hope is to restart the season in June. 

Almada is believed to favour a move to City ahead of United in a deal that could set the Premier League champions back £15m. 

Almada made 10 starts for Velez Sarsfield last season, who finished the 2019 campaign third behind Boca Juniors and River Plate.