Manchester United: Livingston manager David Hopkins confirms top clubs' interest in signing midfielder Matthew Knox

Livingston manager David Hopkins has confirmed interest from top clubs for midfielder Matthew Knox. They include Manchester United, Tottenham and Chelsea with whom he has had trials in the past. The Scottish Championship club's manager is keen to ward off interest and hold on to the in-demand star for at least two more years.

The 16-year-old midfielder made his first start for the club following six substitute appearances during their 1-0 win over Rangers, which included him assisting the only goal of the game. The Red Devils are big admirers of Knox and had a bid rejected on transfer deadline day in January this year. Knox has already had trials at all the top clubs in the Premier League and is likely to move in the near future.

United, Liverpool and Tottenham are likely to make another move during the upcoming transfer window, but Hopkins is keen to keep the youngster at the Championship club in order to help him develop into a 'special talent'. The manager, however, has to convince the board to hold on to him rather than cash in, especially if there is a bidding war between interested clubs.

"I am fighting tooth and nail with the board, and I think they are going to back me, to keep him. He is a phenomenal talent and there is a lot of clubs interested in him," Hopkins said, as quoted by BBC Sport.

"I want to keep him for an extra year or two years and develop him myself because I think he is going to be something special."

"He has only turned 16 and he came out and put in a performance like that against the top team in the Championship and probably one of the top teams in Scotland. He didn't look out of place and it is great credit to the kid," the Livingston manager added.