'Deal agreed' - Crystal Palace set to lose wonderkid winger as Manchester United close in on transfer

Crystal Palace are to lose their rising star Samuel Lusale after he turned down a scholarship with the Eagles in favour of a deal with Manchester United. The Old Trafford club have been linked with stealing several of Palace’s stars this summer, including the likes of England internationals Adam Wharton, Marc Guehi and Eberechi Eze. While it would appear that Oliver Glasner is not set to lose any of those stars to Erik ten Hag’s side, the Austrian manager may well be saying farewell to the 16-year-old winger Lusale.

Since Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s arrival at Old Trafford, United have had a focus on bringing in younger talent. 18-year-old Leny Yoro and 23-year-old Joshua Zirkzee have already signed with the Red Devils but the Mancunian club are far from done this transfer window as they seek to steal academy stars from their Premier League rivals.

According to the Italian sports journalist and transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, the Red Devils have agreed a deal with the Eagles to sign the young winger from their academy. United have also reportedly agreed to take on Chido Obi Martin who recently parted ways with Arsenal as a free agent.

Taking to Twitter, Romano wrote: “After Chido Obi Martin, Man United also agree deal to sign Samuel Lusale from Crystal Palace for the academy. 16 year old winger set for United move after he turned down scholarship deal at Palace.”

The reports from Romano have also been backed up by the Manchester United academy news account MUFC Youth who have said: “Manchester United have reached a full agreement to sign Samuel Lusale from Crystal Palace after the winger rejected a scholarship offer.”

Lusale was yet to make his first appearance in the senior Palace squad but will now hope his first Premier League appearance comes for the Old Trafford side.