Manchester United target Thiago Almada has previously admitted his admiration for Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa.
Almada is reportedly set to move to Europe this summer after catching the eye of scouts while playing for Velez Sarsfield in Argentina.
According to Todofichajes, the Reds are leading the race for the 19-year-old winger, having come to a verbal agreement over a summer transfer.
Arsenal, Manchester City, Atletico Madrid and Barcelona have all previously been linked with the Argentina under-20 international, but the report states that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men have now submitted a bid of £14.1million for his services.
Almada’s potential move to the Red Devils at the end of the season would be in keeping with the club’s recent transfer policy of signing talented youngsters.
Solskjaer’s side signed 19-year-old Facundo Pellistri from Penarol in Uruguay in October, while 18-year-old Amad Diallo arrived from Italian side Atalanta this month.
However, while Almada could be bound for Old Trafford this summer, it is a different Premier League club who he has expressed an interest in.
“I would like Bielsa to coach me,” he told TyC Sports in July. “My friends sent me something about Bielsa, but I am calm. Whether it happens or not, we have to see.
“I don’t watch much soccer, but I saw some Leeds highlights and I saw something similar to what we did in Velez with (Gabriel) Heinze.”
Velez Sarsfield are now managed by former Southampton boss Mauricio Pellegrino after former Reds' defender Heinze left to join Atlanta United in MLS.
Almada has scored 10 times in 31 appearances for the South American club, who Bielsa managed between 1997 and 1998.
Bielsa has been with Leeds since 2018, but is well known in his home country, having taken charge of the national team from 1998 to 2004 and Chile from 2007 to 2011 before moving to Europe to continue his career.
