The Reds are among a growing queue of suitors tracking Racing Santander's 18-year-old attacking midfielder.
It is understood that the Reds' European scout Martin Ferguson, brother of Sir Alex, was among those casting an eye over the new teenage sensation last weekend in Racing's match against Real Valladolid.
He saw Canales score Racing's equaliser in their home El Sardinero stadium.
His points-saver followed on from a two-goal display away at Sevilla in his previous match to kick off a sensational 2010 for the local player, who has had the Spanish drooling.
The gifted midfielder with an eye for goal has inevitably already caught the attention of Real Madrid.
The big spenders have attempted to nip in ahead of their rivals for Canales' signature with a deal but have yet to make an agreement.
The player is out of contract at Racing in the summer and from the beginning of this year was able to open dialogue with interested parties.
While he'd be available for nothing at the end of the season as a free agent, Real at least have noted that to stick around until then might be too late.
Canales has been at the Santander club since he was 11 but it has only been this season when new boss Miguel Angel Portugal gave him his chance that he proved he had the quality for La Liga.
But it is not just Real Madrid and United who are monitoring Canales, Chelsea, Arsenal, Barcelona and Bayern Munich are all in the hunt.
But the words of Canales suggest that the 18-year-old is not quite ready for a move to a top club, despite reported interest.
He said: “Right now my preference is for Racing. They are the ones who have given me the confidence to play and make my debut at 18-years-old.
“Without ruling out anything, in the situation that I am in, I'm happy here.”
His father Angel insists the Canales camp won't have their heads turned by the interest developing in Europe.
“Various clubs have been in contact but we must take things step by step,” he said.
“It's an important moment for Sergio. It is complicated, not only for economic matters. We have not yet decided anything.
“It is clear that Sergio must continue to play and at a big team that can be difficult.”
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Whilst I dont really like to base a full assesment from Youtube, this kids movement off the ball and finishing looks to be what we need. A runner from CM going forward. Just had a look at stats for the season since we were told Cesc Fabregas wouldnt get in our side, well he has 10 goals and 10 assists from 17 games whilst the invisible man (Carrick) has 2 goals and 0 assists from 20 games. Those stats go hand in hand with the typical Carrick contribution. This kid is available on a free. We should at least have a go for him.
His father and agent in talks with Arsenal according to the papers.
LMCO - sounded a promising article until ........ :
"the Reds' European scout Martin Ferguson, brother of Sir Alex"
Maybe, as we're skint we'll trade Anderson & Nini to acquire his services. then a month before the lad is about to arrive at OT, we'll either cancel the deal (they can still keep Nini though as recompense for wasting their time!) or the lad will sign for Arsenal as Wenger makes a dash by private plane to tempt the young star to the Emmiroydes stadium!
Well it seems that anything Martin Fergie sees turns to turd, so hopefully we won't be getting involved...
And is it Martin who compiles these spy dossiers? Not very secretive are they!
By all means let's go for him, then four later sell him to Real Madrid for a world record fee after he starts pining for 'his dream move'. We will then be assured there's no value in the transfer market to spend the cash on..
lee heywood
behave yourself .
how could a player with such "limited" creative ability get into our team. the fact that he score lots of goals and makes many more is insufficient. you must know that he can't run 10km in 90 minutes.
Forget about it. He won't be joining us I'm sorry to say. No spaniards in our squad.
Great photo. Sign him up!
Reports in norway suggest Manchester United are ready to buy the young Norwegian
Central Defender Even Hovland from Sogndal IL. Hovland is 20 years old and considered
one of norway's top talents and has been on trials at united this winter. A spokesperson
for the club stated that he would return to manchester for the third time this winter and
have talks and train with the team.
i've seen this kid play, he's the real deal but I doubt the spanish clubs will let him get away.
How many of these "wonderkids" ever become top players?
Not many.
We should concentrate on ouir own youngsters and give them chances, plural, in the first team, not keep them on the bench or sell them on for a few million as we usually do.
He wont come to us we cant afford his airline ticket lets get real the good days for MUFC are over well and truley ,we are a selling clu if anyone wants the trash we are carrying ,what a disaster
We need OH back sooner rather than later , is he getting there ? does anyone know ?
Quality player just checked him out you tube and by far hes better then anderson!! Hopefully we might be able to get him under 5 mill who knows???????
He looks good on youtube, but then so did berbadross! Is he on a free?
Monkey tennis?, Ronaldo wasn't so bad. Martin scouted him before he was known by anyone here. Cantona turned out OK. He was one of Martin's.
I don't understand the irrational response to lash out at people that you've only ever heard of but you don't know what they do.
Forget it - If he's any good he'll end up at Madrid anyway.
very surprised that the MEN haven`t mentioned the Rooney going to Barca story. If they want him, he will go.
Lee, on the C.Midfield front....i have a question. Do you think that, as a generalisation, our lack of scoring from CM is more as a result of instructions to the CM players than in relation to their ability?? Apart from anderson that is, who has often been given a role just off a central striker but as we know, he couldn't hit his own backside never mind a cow's with a banjo !!
Putting ability to play CM aside for a second, I think back to Alan Smith in CM. When SaF played him there, the one thing i thought it would bring would be goals from CM or at least a player getting forward all the time. Instead, i used to watch in horror as when we hit teams on the break, he literally stayed 30 yds back upfield, often with Fletch or JoS and even Scholesy alongside him!!
Then we have scholesy, just about coming to the end of his days now, yet the goals dried up years ago in conjunction with his forward runs. The excuse being given that he couldn't do it anymore. Rubbish. Just like giggsy couldn't get up 7 down the left wing anymore BUT we now see him doing it again !!
Now we have carrick, who i like as a footballer but again find myself in despair at his apparent lack of desire to get into the box (late). Often, he can be seen looking accros at th big issue seller to see if he should (or is allowed ?) to get forward !
Fabregas, or a player of that ilk (Ramsey will be be next), would be truly awesome for us - a modern day Robbo/young Keano) - but i dread to think how our coaching staff would have such a player ply his trade !!??
just a thought !!
Lee, Heywood. Whilst I dont really like to base a full assesment from Youtube, this kids movement off the ball and finishing looks to be what we need.
I think you need 700 million rather more urgently. Why would he move to a decaying club?.
I see the youtube scouts are out again. Thank the Lord your not the managers of United. Anybody can look on tele for 30 seconds.
black and blue, top clubs not interested in City's band of wastrels and strays then. I can't recall anyone being in for a City player. The nearest would be Robinho who has constantly been trying to link himself with someone, anyone.
The Rooney story is obvious tosh. It's another opportunistic dig by an ABU but this time someone with a dislike for Paul Stretford.
If Fergie's kid brother was a good scout he'd have seen this kid before all Europe got a view of him a couple of weeks ago! Ronaldo?? Only seen him after Utd played a pre season friendly against Sporting! Cantona??? He was an esablished French international who'd played for about 7 clubs before Fergie asked a question!
Our recent record of finding gems a la Andrei,Ole,Schmikes,Paddy is bobbins! We've bought too many Jemba,Klebs,Nini's over the years...Arsenal seem to be years ahead of us in finding them!
Have'nt read any other threads as yet..just read the Daily Telegraph on how much the gimps aregoing to take ut the club in the next few years!
If you are in doubt on renewing your ticket in May..this will sway you!!!!!!
Just read in a local newspaper here that United is giving a trail to 20 year old Centerback Even Hovland from Norwegian 1st division side Sogndal(which has fostered a few good players throughout the years)
Amazing....a "SPY" dossier that is now up on MEN news. No so much of a secret anymore is it?
Balders!, "Do you think that, as a generalisation, our lack of scoring from CM is more as a result of instructions to the CM players than in relation to their ability??" I think it's a certainty that the CMs have had a deeper more defensive role once the defensive injuries began to bite. The tactic seems to be get it forward to a winger quickly, either from a CM or CB. With the CM's so deep they stand little chance of getting into a scoring position. In normal formations and tactics, they get more opportunities but they have been reluctant to shoot. Carrick and Fletcher have good shots and we know about Scholes but none seem to want to shoot as much as, say Gibson. I don't know if that's coaching instruction or a genuine reluctance on the players' part. Scholes, Carrick and Fletcher are all great technically, so it's odd that they don't weigh in with a few more goals, at least when we don't have a defensive injury crisis.