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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Ed Aarons

Manchester United and Newcastle join race to sign 19-year-old Adama Bojang

Adama Bojang playing for the Gambia against Uruguay at the Under-20 World Cup.
Adama Bojang playing for the Gambia against Uruguay at the Under-20 World Cup. Photograph: Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images

Manchester United and Newcastle are the latest Premier League clubs to show an interest in Adama Bojang but face a battle with several German teams to sign the Gambia Under-20 forward.

Bojang, who starred in his country’s recent run to the knockout stages at the Under-20 World Cup, is available for about €3m (£2.6m) from Steve Biko FC in the Gambia. The 19-year-old has also attracted interest from Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Liverpool, Tottenham and Wolves after his performances in Argentina.

It is understood his club has received an offer from an unnamed German side this week, with RB Leipzig and Eintracht Frankfurt linked with Bojang. He is believed to favour a move to the Bundesliga but it remains to be seen whether that would change if an English club make a move.

Despite his lack of experience in Europe, Bojang could qualify for a UK work permit under the updated Governing Body Endorsement (GBE) criteria for international player visas approved by the Home Office last week. English clubs are permitted to sign a number of players who do not meet the points requirements, with four available to teams in the top two divisions.

That could enable Southampton to sign Bojang’s international teammate Dembo Saidykhan, a defender who also plays for Steve Biko FC. Both were part of the Gambia side that reached the final of the Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations in March, where Bojang scored four times and was named in the team of the tournament.

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