Manchester United transfer target Moises Caicedo is the “genuine article”, according to South American football expert Tim Vickery.
As MEN Sport first reported in December, United are in negotiations with the 19-year-old and his club Independiente del Valle over a deal for the Ecuador international.
They are yet to make a breakthrough on a transfer agreement which would earn his club a fee in the region of €6million and include a 20 per cent sell-on clause.
United are still hoping to tie up the contract, which would see the teenager move to Manchester later this month in order to comply with work permit regulations.
Caicedo is far from certain to arrive at Old Trafford but Vickery says United fans can expect an exciting arrival if the move does materialise.
“It looks like he’s locked in for Man United and if it goes through they’ve got themselves the real deal Holyfield,” he told Football Daily .
“The way the market is going with South American footballers, is that European clubs want to take them young, as early as possible, so they are buying on promise.
“But this fellow, Moises Caicedo, he’s already much more than a promise - he’s a reality. He’s the first player born in the 21st century to score a goal in South America’s World Cup qualifiers.”
Caicedo is a central midfielder and Vickery drew a comparison with Manchester City legend Colin Bell, who sadly passed away on Tuesday aged 74 .
“I don’t want to say that Moises Caicedo is going to be as good as Colin Bell,” he said. “But Moises Caicedo is in that kind of mould - he’s a terrific athlete who makes football look easy.
“He’s a box-to-box midfielder. A year ago he was saying that Kante of Chelsea was his role model. He’s already more than that - he offers more in the final third than that.
“That can of box-to-box midfielder which is very much in the tradition of the English game - strong, quick, intelligent, cool. He really does look like the genuine article.”
United are not the only club interested in Caicedo and Independiente del Valle general manager Santiago Morales this week warned Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side that he could yet go elsewhere.
“There is another club interested in England and also a team from the five top leagues in Europe,” Morales told Machdeportes.
“We have two strong teams from Europe interested in him, without reaching any understanding yet. But we hope their negotiation will be prompt.”
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