Manchester United 'agree deal' to sign Benfica wunderkind Umaro Embalo

Highly-rated teenage winger Umaro Embalo is set to leave Benfica for Manchester United, according to the latest reports from Portugal.

Sports publication Record claims that a deal has already been agreed between the clubs for the talented Guinea-Bissau-born 16-year-old, who has been favourably compared to former Eagles favourite and expensive Old Trafford flop Angel Di Maria, to become the latest member of United's youth setup.

The Red Devils were known to be monitoring Embalo, with chief scout Javier Ribalta having watched the player in action last month during a fiery 2-2 Uefa Youth League draw between Benfica and Nicky Butt's young side at the Caixa Futebol Campus in Seixal, a game in which he was introduced as a 65th-minute substitute by Under-19 coach Joao Tralhao.

Hours later, Manchester United's senior team beat Primeira Liga giants Benfica 1-0 in a tame Champions League Group A fixture at the Estadio da Luz after another of the hosts' gifted youngsters, Mile Svilar, inexplicably carried a hopeful Marcus Rashford free-kick over his own line.

ESPN reported that United had actually been tracking the versatile Embalo for more than 12 months and that the club's scouts in Portugal were also monitoring fellow forward Joao Felix and midfielder Joao Filipe, the latter of whom had previously spent time on trial at Carrington before eventually being handed a new five-year contract in Lisbon.

Real Madrid have also been closely linked with Embalo in the past and it was rumoured back in May that they were willing to pay up to €15m (£13.3m, $17.4m) in order to beat a number of other high-profile European suitors to his signature.

However, the Portuguese Under-17 international is now expected to join United's academy, where he will hope to continue his swift progress under academy chief Butt and Under-18s head coach Kieran McKenna.