Sedi Kinteh: Man United battle Premier League rival for Tromso IL starlet | OneFootball

Manchester United are closely tracking Gambian starlet Sedi Kinteh after the 19-year-old defender has enjoyed an “impressive debut season” in Norway, according to a new report.

A Rapid Rise

Kinteh has enjoyed a meteoric rise in the Eliteserien – the Norwegian top division – with Tromso IL, who finished third last season.

The centre-back was signed as part of Tromso’s partnership with Senegalese academy Mawade Wade, where the youngster came through the ranks.

The Gambia international was offered a trial in Norway and made such a strong impression on the Gutan‘s coaching staff that the club offered him a five-year contract.

The left-footed defender is also capable of playing at full-back, while he possesses outstanding speed after being clocked at just over 37km/h, which puts him level with Tottenham Hotspur juggernaut, Micky van de Ven.

By comparison, Bryan Mbeumo has registered the highest speed for United player this season with 36.4km/h.

The Daily Mail reveals Kinteh’s performances have been so impressive that he has “attracted attention from a number of scouts from elite clubs across Europe” – including United.

The Red Devils are described as having “strong links” in Norway and are “weighing up an approach” this summer.

A Red-Hot Race

United are prioritising an overhaul of their midfield when the window opens on 1 July. However, the club are also “evaluating young defenders”.

A cheap option like Kinteh would allow the bulk of the summer budget to be directed towards the centre of the pitch, while providing versatile depth to the backline.

Tromso are understood to have set an asking price of “around £4 million” for their prized asset. This would make the “Gambian gem” their second most expensive sale after fellow defender, El Hadji Malick Diouf, who is now thriving for West Ham.

However, Chelsea are also interested in striking a deal after their scouts returned similarly glowing reports.

Basel and Young Boys are also in the hunt as the two Swiss sides weigh up whether to “gamble and bid now” for the defender in the hope of flipping him for a major profit later on.

An example of this would be Czech champions Slavia Prague signing Diouf for just under £5m in 2024 before selling him to the Hammers 18 months later for £19m.

If United want to avoid paying top dollar for Kinteh down the line, INEOS would be wise to heed the advice of their scouts and agree a deal quickly – before Chelsea or a Swiss side get there first.

Featured image Alex Livesey via Getty Images

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