Reds keeping an eye on former Blues youngster
UNITED are monitoring Schalke winger Rabbi Matondo as a possible back-up target for Jadon Sancho.
M.E.N. Sport understands the Reds have been scouting the former City forward and view the 19-year-old as a more costefficient option in the next transfer window if Borussia Dortmund ask too much for Sancho.
After United failed to make a breakthrough in their pursuit of the England winger last year they turned their attention to Daniel James, who joined for £15m from Swansea City. Sources say United regard Matondo in the same ‘low-risk buy’ bracket as his Wales teammate James.
Wales coach Ryan Giggs gave United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer glowing scouting reports on James and has named Matondo in all of his squads since the teenager’s first call-up in November 18.
United have also expressed interest in Swansea and Wales centre-back Joe Rodon.
Schalke are expected to sell first-team players at the end of the season as they look to make up for lost revenue following the coronavirus crisis.
Matondo and Sancho could come up against each other when the Bundesliga restarts this weekend in the Gelsenkirchen derby between Dortmund and Schalke.
United have settled on a preference for young British targets in the transfer market, having signed James, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Harry Maguire last year. The club is also interested in Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish and Birmingham City midfielder Jude Bellingham.
Matondo has impressed in Germany since he left City last year in search of first-team football, starting eight times in the Bundesliga.
Although Matondo was born in Liverpool, he played for Cardiff before moving to City. He never played for the first-team and joined Schalke for £11.3m in the 2019 January transfer window.