Manchester United must pay up to £16million for highly-rated teenager Umaro Embalo.

United have been linked with the forward for a while with some reports claiming a deal had already been agreed for the Guinea-Bissau-born youngster.

Embalo is seen as one of the biggest stars coming out of the Benfica academy and the left-footed winger has drawn comparisons with former United stars Nani and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Reports in November claimed United had offered £6million for the youngster, who has 15 goals in 19 games for Portugal’s Under-16 side.

Umaro Embalo tries to make a block in the Algarve tournament (
Image:
Bongarts)

United have sent both chief scout Javier Ribalta and head of development John Murtagh to watch the youngster, who also played against United in the UEFA Youth League last month.

New reports in the Portuguese press claim Benfica are now ready to sell the 16-year-old and his agent has confirmed he is in high demand, report the Manchester Evening News.

A Bola report that Benfica are warming to the idea of selling Embalo but United have been given a valuation of £14-16million for the Portugal U17 star.

Jose Mourinho has been given the price for the starlet (
Image:
Leicester City FC)

Embalo's agent spoke about his client's future last month: "Nothing is done, and the conversation, nobody communicated anything to me, nor to the parents.

"He has interest from several clubs, because he is an asset of Benfica and has gone down this route well.

"I can say that all the great clubs in Europe have already asked for information about Umaro, from Germany, England, Spain, France.

"If he’s going to Manchester is something that I don’t know at all, but it’s true that we have already met with Benfica and Manchester, there is no agreement, but there are conversations."