Man Utd transfer boost as Marseille pull contract offer to 17-year-old wonderkid Isaac Lihadji while Barcelona circle
MANCHESTER UNITED'S hopes of landing Marseille super-kid Isaac Lihadji have seemingly soared after the French club withdrew a contract offer.
With Barcelona, Everton and Borussia Dortmund also reportedly keen on Lihadji, Marseille finally lost patience with their 17-year-old winger following lengthy talks.
say Marseille director of football Andoni Zubizarreta told the France Under-18 star on Tuesday that more negotiations over his first professional deal have been pulled.
As recently as last summer it was thought Lihadji was happy to stay, although he wanted reassurances from boss Andre Villas-Boas about his role this season.
But although Marseille-born Lihadji made his Ligue 1 debut as a sub in September, he has yet to win a regular place.
Ex-Spurs and Chelsea chief Villas-Boas clearly hoped to take his time developing one of France's hottest prospects.
So the feeling in France is that Lihadji is now eyeing a move to a European giant, with Lille also interested.
RMC say a source close to the management believe talks over a new contract "became too complicated".
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And La Provence have long linked United, Barca and Everton with Lihadji.
Meanwhile, Old Trafford boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is reportedly also chasing Barcelona's Chile midfieler Arturo Vidal.
Chilean sports show DirecTV claim United have outbid Inter Milan for the former Juventus and Bayern Munich ace, 32.