Mourinho ready to pay £2m for Sessegnon, 17

Manchester United are keen to sign Ryan Sessegnon, the Fulham 17-year-old who is yet to sign a professional deal at his current club, having broken into the first team last season.

The player turned 17 on May 18, the earliest point at which he could agree a professional deal, and a preagreed contract is due to begin at the start of next month, albeit one which was negotiated before he had established a place in the first team. He would be available for around £2million in training compensation, were he to leave the club this summer without signing a professional deal.

Sessegnon, whose twin brother Steven is another promising Fulham homegrown product, is understood to be open-minded about staying at Fulham, despite the interest from United and other Premier League clubs. The likelihood is that he will want improved terms when it comes to his first professional deal, and assurances that should Fulham not be promoted to the Premier League next season they would agree to sell him at the right price.

In addition to United, whose manager Jose Mourinho is understood to rate Sessegnon, there is also interest from Liverpool, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur. Those clubs are waiting to see whether Fulham secure Sessegnon with a three-year contract this summer, the longest deal a player can sign under the age of 18.

Sessegnon has emerged as one of the most sought-after teenagers in the game, after making 30 firstteam appearances in the Championship and cup competitions.