UNITED FEAR A CITY RAID
MANCHESTER UNITED are facing a fight to keep two of their brightest young stars out of the hands of rivals Manchester City.
Teenagers ravel Morrison and Paul Pogba, key figures in United’s Fa Youth cup-winning team last season, are both out of contract at the end of the season.
And City are heading a queue of top clubs ready to pounce if one or both refuse to sign new deals and become free agents.
United would be entitled to compensation for development costs because both players are under 24, but it would be a bitter blow to lose such talented youngsters – especially to their closest rivals. Sir Alex Ferguson wants to keep Morrison and Pogba, both 18, and has included them in his first-team squad and Carling Cup ties.
But United have yet to open talks with England youth international Morrison, amid concerns that a lucrative new deal could lead to more off-field problems.
He escaped a custodial sentence this year after pleading guilty to witness intimidation and further angered United when he admitted criminal damage.
United have started talks with France youth international Pogba, but Ferguson admitted they were having “difficulties” negotiating a new deal with his agent.