Manchester United join Chelsea in race for 18-year-old La Liga talent

Manchester United have joined Chelsea alongside two other Premier League clubs for 18-year-old La Liga talent Assane Diao.

Assane Diao, who plays for La Liga side Real Betis, has turned many heads this season, scoring 7 goals in 15 appearances across Betis’ A and B teams, gaining the interest of Erik ten Hag at Manchester United.

He has started the last seven league games for Betis, scoring twice in La Liga in that time, and has played an equal number of times on both the right and left-hand side, although traditionally operates as a right-footed left winger.

Estadio Deportivo have reported that due to his good performances this campaign, United have joined Chelsea, who currently lead the race for the winger, and the two clubs are also accompanied by Liverpool and Newcastle, who both hold serious interest.

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Diao is also receiving interest from the Bundesliga, Serie A and LaLiga, with Betis now scrambling to get Diao to sign a new deal in order to up his current release clause and length of time on his contract.

Diao’s deal is set to expire in June 2024, and it contains a release clause of £30 million, which Betis would like to increase in order to maximise Diao’s value as a young winger.

United are set to bin Jadon Sancho in the coming weeks in order to free up space on the wage bill after it was declared that he would never play for Manchester United again following his spat with Ten Hag.

Although a move for Diao is likely to be impossible in January, it may be one to watch as the Senegalese youngster continues to develop in the coming months.