United bid for French starlets

Duo ready for Old Trafford switch

By Patrick Haond   Last updated: 20th May 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

United bid for French starlets

Ferguson: Ready to swooop

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Manchester United have made bids for French starlets Jeremy Helen and Darnel Situ.

15-year-old Helen is one of the most sought after teenagers in Europe and United look to have beaten Internazionale, Real Madrid, Arsenal, Newcastle and Everton to a deal.

Helen, a left-back, is currently with Rennes, who United have now opened talks with about a deal as he has a two-year agreement with the French side.

"The player wants to go to Manchester United," admitted Rennes general manger Pierre Dreossi.

"And they have made us an offer.

"We will gather our thoughts and see whether we will consider it or not, but we will defend our interests."

United have already made contact with the family of the Clairefontaine graduate and his mother has confirmed her son is set for Manchester after talks with Sir Alex Ferguson.

"Nothing is settled so far," she told L'Equipe.

"My son has signed a pre-contract with Rennes and we called for a specialist to look at it. Jeremy is a stable boy and I cannot see any difference between living in Rennes or Manchester if you have a good entourage.

"I will spend several months and years beside him if needed and my son and I have talked with Alex Ferguson."

Money not an issue

She insists that the move is not financially motivated and insists United offer him the best chance of progressing in his career.

"Internazionale, Newcastle, Arsenal, Real Madrid and Everton also contacted him. Money will not make his choice," she said.

"To him, Manchester offers the best career path."

Helen is currently a French Under 16 international and he could very well be joined at Old Trafford by compatriot Darnel Situ.

Situ - captain of the French Under 16s - is another player United have talked to and now they are closing on the capture of both.

Situ is currently attached to Lens, but like with Rennes, they look set to lose one of their prized assets.