Exclusive: Newcastle and Sunderland battle to sign Manchester United winger amid expiring contract

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• EXCLUSIVE from Graeme Bailey

Manchester United are ‘surprised’ about their shock fight to keep Omari Forson now he has rejected a new contract, HITC Football understands, amid interest from Newcastle United.

The Red Devils are battling to keep hold of the 19-year-old as he is due to be out of contract in June. Teams will owe Manchester United compensation for his development if the winger does exit Old Trafford this summer. Forson has been in the Red Devils’ academy since 2019.

Manchester United still hope to keep Forson who, as it stands, can walk away in search of a new chapter. But the England U20 international has rejected the club’s latest offer of a new contract. It even comes after Forson made his senior debut in the FA Cup earlier this month.

Newcastle and Sunderland are interested in Manchester United gem Omari Forson

Forson featured from Erik ten Hag’s bench away to Wigan Athletic in the third round of the FA Cup. The London-born talent came on in stoppage time against the Latics. Ten Hag also named Forson on their bench for a Premier League fixture for the first time one week later.

Yet despite Forson being an unused substitute at home to Tottenham Hotspur, sources close to the situation have now told HITC Football that the turn of events regarding the attacker’s future has ‘surprised’ Manchester United. Forson also has more than a dozen clubs keen.

HITC Football understands that the North East trio of Middlesbrough, Newcastle United and Sunderland are among the clubs keen on the highly-rated teenager. But Manchester United have not given up their hopes of retaining Forson following his recent senior breakthrough.

Manchester United still hope to retain the winger after he rejected a new contract

Manchester United had, initially, planned to send Forson out on loan in the January transfer window if he agreed to sign a new contract. But their plans have now been put on hold with the former Tottenham academy talent refusing to commit his future to the Old Trafford club.

Forson quit Spurs in 2019 and has since played with the Red Devils’ Under-18s, 19s, 21s and first-team squads. Ten Hag first named the forward among his substitutes in the Champions League against Bayern Munich in September. He was also on their bench at FC Copenhagen.