From the Sun:
ALEX FERGUSON is chasing the Portuguese whizkid who has been dubbed the new David Beckham.
Sporting Lisbon golden boy Carlos Quaresma has been identified as the next big thing to come out of Portugal - and is tipped to have an even bigger future than Luis Figo.
He is already rated in the £12million bracket by his club, even though he is still only 18.
The Manchester United boss sent chief scout Mick Brown to watch Quaresma in Saturday's 1-0 home defeat against Porto.
It was their latest trip to see one of Europe's leading young talents - and one of the most significant given the opening of the transfer window.
A deal with their Portuguese 'twin' club is more likely at the end of the season, however, as they monitor his progress.
Carlos Queiroz, United's Portuguese coach, has also been making lengthy inquiries on their behalf. But they will have to make a definite move over the next couple of months as Juventus are also keen on signing him in the summer.
Sporting's incredible rating of their prize youngster has scared off potential buyers so far.
But it is increasingly likely that there will be an end-of-season auction - and Ferguson is determined not to miss out.
The United chief has struck gold with youngster John O'Shea this season, while there are also high hopes for Kieran Richardson and Lee Roche.
But Fergie is well aware that the production line has never come close to churning out the talent it did when Beckham, Gary and Phil Neville, Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes all came through the ranks.
And he is desperate to bring a new generation of stars to the club, even if that means dipping into the Old Trafford coffers.
Ferguson is also closing in on Sunderland's French striker David Bellion.
Yet Quaresma is a more natural replacement for Beckham because of his talent on the ball - and he takes free-kicks!
ALEX FERGUSON is chasing the Portuguese whizkid who has been dubbed the new David Beckham.
Sporting Lisbon golden boy Carlos Quaresma has been identified as the next big thing to come out of Portugal - and is tipped to have an even bigger future than Luis Figo.
He is already rated in the £12million bracket by his club, even though he is still only 18.
The Manchester United boss sent chief scout Mick Brown to watch Quaresma in Saturday's 1-0 home defeat against Porto.
It was their latest trip to see one of Europe's leading young talents - and one of the most significant given the opening of the transfer window.
A deal with their Portuguese 'twin' club is more likely at the end of the season, however, as they monitor his progress.
Carlos Queiroz, United's Portuguese coach, has also been making lengthy inquiries on their behalf. But they will have to make a definite move over the next couple of months as Juventus are also keen on signing him in the summer.
Sporting's incredible rating of their prize youngster has scared off potential buyers so far.
But it is increasingly likely that there will be an end-of-season auction - and Ferguson is determined not to miss out.
The United chief has struck gold with youngster John O'Shea this season, while there are also high hopes for Kieran Richardson and Lee Roche.
But Fergie is well aware that the production line has never come close to churning out the talent it did when Beckham, Gary and Phil Neville, Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes all came through the ranks.
And he is desperate to bring a new generation of stars to the club, even if that means dipping into the Old Trafford coffers.
Ferguson is also closing in on Sunderland's French striker David Bellion.
Yet Quaresma is a more natural replacement for Beckham because of his talent on the ball - and he takes free-kicks!
