REAL MADRID have reportedly made the “first contact” with Eduardo Camavinga as they steal a march on Manchester United in the transfer race for the Rennes wonderkid.
Los Blancos view the 17-year-old as the ideal replacement for Paul Pogba amid reports suggesting that the Frenchman is ready to stay at Old Trafford for another year.
Real Madrid are leading a four-way battle with Manchester United, Barcelona and Juventus for Rennes midfielder Eduardo Camavinga
According to AS, the Bernabeu’s chief scout Juni Calafat, has been in talks with the Angolan’s entourage.
The midfield maestro only signed a new deal last summer to tie him down until 2022 but the report says he is “seriously considering” parting ways with the French club in the next transfer window.
Los Blancos boss Zinedine Zidane is said to be a huge fan of the teen with the player believed to be a top priority as the Spanish outfit look to sign a defensive midfielder.
Rennes finished third in the top flight and in a Champions League spot, after Ligue 1 was cancelled following the coronavirus crisis.
But the youngster believes he is ready to take the next step and switch to the Spanish capital following his scintillating form in France.
There is thought to be no release clause in Camavinga’s contract and a price tag as high as £52million had been wafted around before coronavirus hit Europe with a devastating impact.
The hot shot’s fee is likely to be much lower now due to the financial uncertainty surrounding the killer virus.
Los Blancos face stiff competition from Manchester United, Juventus and PSG.
When the midfielder’s side beat Paris Saint-Germain in August, he became the youngest player to make an assist in league history.
And while his debut was a Rennes record, he also claimed the prestigious title of the first player born after January 1, 2002 to start a game in Europe’s top five leagues when facing Monaco in May.
The wonderkid fits the bill for Old Trafford boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer who is on the lookout for an exciting crop of youngsters in the coming transfer window.
But Rennes chief Nicolas Holveck threw cold water over speculation of the youngster moving away from Roazhon Park.
Speaking to L’Equipe Chaine he said: “Our priority is to make sure that the team remains intact – a team which has demonstrated the great talent it possesses during a fantastic season.
“We need to be intelligent in the transfer market so that we can improve the team and make sure it is as strong as possible so that we can fulfil our objective of getting through the qualifying round.”
By the age of 16, Camavinga had signed his first professional contract with Rennes– the youngest player in the club’s history to do so.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
