MANCHESTER UNITED are preparing to battle it out with Barcelona to land French wonderkid Eduardo Camavinga.
The Rennes youngster, who has just turned 17, has a 25.6million buyout clause in his contract.
And United view him as the long-term successor to Paul Pogba in the heart of midfield.
They are now all set to go head to head with Spanish champions Barca to bring him to the Premier League.
Camavinga was born in Angola but became a French citizen earlier this month.
He won his first France Under-21 caps last week when he was drafted in to replace Arsenal’s Matteo Guendouzi, who moved up to the senior squad.
Pogba has been missing for United since aggravating an ankle injury in the 1-1 draw with Arsenal in September.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer hopes to have him back for the derby against Manchester City at the Etihad on December 7.
But his return could be shortlived, with Sun Sport exclusively revealing the Frenchman could finally be on his way to Real Madrid in a swap deal for Gareth Bale.
United were keen on bringing in the Welshman in the summer and may now get him in January.
If that move fails to materialise, a summer switch looks increasingly likely with Pogba heading the other way.
The 89million midfielder is out of contract in the summer of 2021 and Old Trafford chiefs won’t want to see him run down the final year of his deal and lose him for nothing.
He has been recovering in Dubai and America, and yesterday posted a rare family picture celebrating his wife’s birthday – and showing off the World Cup trophy in his lounge.
