Manchester United are set to tie down teenage prodigy Shola Shoretire to a lucrative professional contract amid interest from other giant clubs across Europe.
Shoretire, who turned 17 on Tuesday, burst onto the scene with his eye-catching performances for United's Under-23s to grab the attention of Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Juventus.
The Nigeria-born Englishman is considered one of the best attacking midfielders in Europe for his age and he has picked up two goals and two assists in 12 Premier League 2 games this season.
Shoretire has been training with the first team and is expected to make his senior debut later this campaign after signing his first professional deal.
That's according to the Daily Mail , which adds the advice of former United striker Michael Owen and current stars Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood was key to convincing Shoretire to stay with the Red Devils.
United's European rivals were keen to prise the teenager from the club's Carrington base after he first grabbed headlines by making his UEFA Youth League debut at the age of just 14.
Shoretire idolises Brazil legend Ronaldinho and is comfortable on either wing or in an attacking midfield role.
He spent the past two seasons with United's Under-18s before joining up with the U23s this season, for whom he has also featured in the EFL Trophy.
Shoretire - who was raised in Newcastle before moving to Manchester - hopes to continue his rise through the ranks by breaking into the first team, just as Rashford and Greenwood did.
Does Shola Shoretire have what it takes to become a first-team regular for Manchester United? Have your say in the comments.
United U23 boss Neil Wood gave a glowing verdict on the youngster earlier this season, saying: "What impresses me the most is he is a very technical player.
"Shola has always played up a year through his whole academy career. I can’t remember him ever playing his own age group. He has always been stretched.
"He is very mature for his age, the way he plays, he does a lot of work, takes a lot of positions up, and he has played a lot of roles.
"He’s played [Number] 9, he’s played left, he’s played on the right, he’s played 10 and whatever you ask him to do – on and off the ball – he is going to do it. You can trust him to do that job.
"He is very young, and doing excellent for the age of him. I am not expecting him to be man of the match or [a] main figure of the team, because he is so young, but he’s not going on that pitch and drowning or anything. He has probably been one of our most consistent outstanding performers throughout the season."
Sign up to the Mirror Football email here for the latest news and transfer gossip.
