Jude Bellingham had a tour of Manchester United’s training ground earlier this month and a decision awaits on his next move.
If he is not swayed by Sir Alex Ferguson greeting him and encouraging a switch then there is not much else United could have done, if he wants a quicker path to first team football.
What the club can do is find a viable alternative, and there is a very good one over in France.
Eduardo Camavinga is a player who may even be better than Bellingham.
What is his situation?
Camavinga is just 17-years-old and like Bellingham he is playing regular football already.
He has made 24 starts for Rennes in Ligue 1 this season and is attracting big attention with his performances. Spanish newspaper AS report Real Madrid are admirers.
Rennes will not be able to hold onto him for long and Transfermarkt value him at £37.8 million already. AS report they want 60 million Euros (£54.7 million).
The Sun reported earlier this season that United were following Camavinga, along with Barcelona.
He made his first appearance for France’s under-21s earlier this year and was an outside shot to make Les Bleus’s side for Euro 2020 – before the tournament was postponed.
Upside compared to Bellingham
Camavinga is a more defined defensive midfielder than Bellingham, who is more of a box-to-box player.
It can be argued Ligue 1 is a superior league to the Championship and he is proving his quality already.
United should also consider the potential of pairing Camavinga with other French talents at United.
Not only could he be excited by learning from Paul Pogba, but he could also forge a long term midfield partnership at United with the more flamboyant Hannibal Mejbri, who has been impressing this season.
While Bellingham appears to be United’s focus for now, if United are unsuccessful, Camavinga is an ideal alternative, and could even go on to become the better option.
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