Forget Moura, this is the Brazilian prodigy Manchester United should snap up:

I’ve spent some time recently complaining about Manchester United’s transfer priorities.

Despite weaknesses in Sir Alex Ferguson’s defence and an aging midfield, the great man seems to be predominantly interested in signing a new striker, or attacking player.

The man I’m referring to is James Rodriguez, FC Porto’s insanely talented young winger. The trouble here is that he has a rather large price-tag.

Wouldn’t Sir Alex be better suited going after a long-term replacement for Paul Scholes? Whilst United have Antonio Valencia, Ashley Young and Luis Nani (whose future is admittedly somewhat precarious) down the wings, they don’t seem quite as strong in the centre of the park.

There’s also all kinds of problems with the Red Devil’s defence. With Patrice Evra and Rio Ferdinand getting on in years and seemingly on their way out, Sir Alex needs to focus his attention here. Especially as Nemanja Vidic has spent the majority of the last couple of seasons struggling to find fitness.

So it would no doubt seem somewhat hypocritical for me to recommend that Manchester United go after a 16-year-old striker with little chance of breaking into the first team over the next couple of seasons. But that’s what I’m going to do anyway.

The Lucas Moura saga over the course of the last summer proved one thing: Manchester United will always be in the market for talented young players. Brazilian prodigy Bruno Gomes certainly ticks those boxes. (CaughtOffside link him to Old Trafford here).

Whilst I can’t claim to be a font of knowledge concerning the Deportivo Brasil ace, reports from Brazil are remarkably positive. He’s said to be a pacey young striker, with technical ability far beyond his own age and an eye for goal. Even if he’s not quite ready for the Premier League just yet, the chances are, in a couple of years’ time he will be.

Whilst Sir Alex is sorted for strikers at the moment, there’s no telling what the situation will be in two-or-three seasons’ time. Buying young is a means of saving money and safeguarding the club’s future. There’s every chance Gomes will go on to be a world-beater, but should he end up disappointing, he won’t have cost Sir Alex an absolute fortune.

In this sense, I think it’d be a smart signing – especially if Fergie strikes before his price-tag gets driven up by further good performances.

EDIT: According to this source, Manchester United have completed the signing.

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