Manchester United Plot Next Signing, But Liverpool Could Beat Them In The Race

Manchester United manager Louis Van Gaal is set to steal Heerenveen midfielder Daley Sinkgraven from the clutches of top European clubs according to British tabloid Mirror. The 19-year old attacking midfielder is apparently attracting interest from the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona. Even Premier League rivals Liverpool are said to be interested in the Dutch u21 international.

According to reports, Louis Van Gaal has been impressed with the midfielder and wants detailed reports from his scouting team. Van Gaal wants to sign the teenager in January if his progress is satisfactory.

Sinkgraven is contracted with the club until 2017 with an optional 2 years. He is son of Harry Edmonton, who played for Groningen and Zwolle before retiring and managing FC Emmen and FC Edmonton. His son Daley is predominantly an attacking midfielder but can also be employed as a winger or central midfielder. He made 15 appearance last season after being introduced into the main team. This season, he has already made 9 appearances so far, scoring twice in the process.

Sinkgraven is still raw and could be loaned out immediately if United do manage to sign him up. Mirror had earlier reported that Liverpool will compete with United for Sinkgraven with the fee said to be somewhere around £4m. Both Brendan Rodgers and Van Gaal like gambling on the youth, so Sinkgraven will have a tough choice to make on which club he wants to join. Despite the presence of Van Gaal, who has a good history of developing young Dutch players like Dennis Bergkamp, the De Boer brothers and  Edgar Davids, Sinkgraven could make the switch to Anfield as the competition for places is much harder at Old Trafford; he’ll have competition from Rooney, Mata, and Di Maria to get into the team. Rodgers’ style of play could suit Sinkgraven too, which will play an important role in the transfer.