Tottenham Hotspur, Southampton and Everton were previously linked with moves for Bolton Wanderers’ Max Broughton, who now appears set to join Manchester United.
According to The Sun, Manchester United are closing in on a deal to sign Bolton starlet Max Broughton. And if that proves to be the case, the size of the fee involved will surely leave Tottenham, Southampton and Everton ruing the fact that they missed out on the 16-year-old, especially if they did not follow up on their interest.
Broughton appears to be one of the brighter prospects coming through in the Football League currently, with the teenager representing England at youth level already.
The Daily Mail reported back in June that Spurs, Southampton and the Toffees were all keen on the Trotters youngster, but The Sun is now suggesting that United are the ones set to win the race.
Broughton appears to be Manchester United bound
There is of course some element of a gamble involved whenever a club targets a 16-year-old who is yet to break into the first-team, but given the fee United are set to pay for a player of Broughton’s potential, surely it could be fair to say that, if they did not make a bid of their own, Tottenham, Everton or the Saints will be left regretting their stances.
The Sun reports that United will pay just £1 million plus add-ons for the 16-year-old, and their relationship with Bolton has proved to be a key factor in them seemingly winning the race.
But with United’s track record when it comes to bringing youngsters through in recent times, it could be argued that any of the trio not making a similar or better bid would have surely been a mistake.
Both Tottenham and Everton have shown with the likes of Dele Alli and Ademola Lookman respectively that they are not afraid to swiftly make lower league starlets important members of their team, while Southampton have a long history of putting enormous amounts of trust in their academy graduates, so any of the three could have undoubtedly put a major case forward to be considered the ideal place for Broughton’s development.
Everton manager Ronald Koeman (L) and Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
