Rangers ready to move for United star Siegrist
Carljohan Eriksson on a two-and-ahalf year deal.
Free agent Eriksson, 26, spent the last four seasons playing for Mjallby AIF in the Swedish Allsvenskan and is viewed as the replacement for Siegrist if he leaves.
United also face a battle to hold on to 17-year-old academy graduate Kerr Smith, with Aston Villa in advanced talks over signing the teenage defender.
While no transfer fee has yet been agreed between the clubs, the Midlands outfit are prepared to dig deep to land the highlyrated player.
Born in Montrose, the Tannadice prospect made his debut for the club against Rangers last February just a few weeks after his 16th birthday.
Tracked by a string of bigname clubs south of the border, Smith has spent time training with Manchester United and Everton as well as Villa over the past year. The Birmingham-based club have now jumped to the front of the queue, with former Rangers boss Steven Gerrard believing Smith can cut it at the very highest level. Smith made five appearances under Micky Mellon last term and has featured seven times for Tam Courts’ men this season. He has been capped by the Scotland Under-19s side and is regarded as one of the country’s top prospects. Villa have their eye on young Scottish talent after the success of John McGinn following his move from Hibs, with a bumper swoop for former Hearts defender Aaron Hickey — now starring in Serie A with Bologna — also in progress. They now hope to make Smith their latest up-andcoming acquisition from the Scottish Premiership.