United Rival Chelsea For £24m-Rated Striker

Despite the transfer window being closed, there is always transfer gossip doing the rounds in the papers and we’ll keep you up-to-date with the latest news during the coming months. Today, Manchester United are linked with Chelsea target Nelson Oliveira.

Manchester United are  keeping tabs on Benfica striker and reported Chelsea-target Nelson Oliveira, according to the Daily Mail.

The Blues are understood to have made regular checks on the 21-year-old over the past few months after the highly-rated forward impressed as a substitute during their Champions League encounter at Stamford Bridge last April.

However, Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is also said to be interested and has been monitoring Oliveira’s progress this season, where he has scored two goals in four games since joining Deportivo la Coruna on a season-long loan.

The Daily Mail claim that Benfica are resigned to losing the talented striker at the end of this season and the likes of Manchester City, Barcelona and Real Madrid also keen admirers.

Oliveira was included in the Portugal squad for this summers European championships and made four substitute appearances. He became one of Europe’s most highly-rated youngsters after being voted as the second-best player at the under-20 World Cup in 2011.

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He is currently on loan at La Liga outfit Deportivo La Coruna and his Benfica contract still runs until 2017, but it includes a buy-out clause of £24m and the Portuguese side are believed to be ready to cash in next summer.

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