Thursday, 13th October, 2011

Manchester United assistant manager Mike Phelan has admitted that the Red Devils do indeed have their eye on Sporting Lisbon striker Ricky van Wolfswinkel.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s Premier League champions are known to have been scouting the 22-year-old Dutchman in recent weeks and have been impressed by what they have seen.

Van Wolfswinkel only landed in Portugal in the summer, but has taken to the country’s football like a duck to water, and Phelan explained this has not gone unnoticed.


"We’ve known about him for a while", Phelan told Portuguese newspaper Record.

"He’s a young and talented striker who is developing very well.

"He’s one of the players we follow."

And for Van Wolfswinkel’s agent Louis Laros, the confirmation from Old Trafford comes as little surprise.

"That Ricky is associated with the biggest clubs is quite logical", said Laros.

"He has a good standing in Portugal and beyond."

Should United choose to firm up their interest however, they may have to battle Liverpool, after Kenny Dalglish’s side also began to pay close attention to Van Wolfswinkel’s exploits.


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