Manchester United set to clinch want-away Barca star?

Manchester United look set to head the chase for 21-year-old Spaniard Thiago Alcantara, the Daily Mail reports. 

United have been keen on the youngster for over three years, reports suggest, and supposedly had a bid believed to be worth £15 million turned down for the player 18 months ago. 

After underlining his determination to establish himself as a key player at the Nou Camp for so long Thiago, who has three full international caps for Spain, now looks resigned to looking elsewhere for more regular first team action. 

His father, who broke the news that Thiago was considering quitting the Catalan giants, said that:

‘My son would play a lot more in any other team in the world. He’s learning a lot playing with great players but Thiago is very ambitious and needs to play.  Should United pursue their interest, he has a buyout clause reported to be worth £25 million.

'No-one knows what might happen in the future. Football changes a lot and anything can happen. If Thiago wants to go to the 2014 World Cup, he needs to play much more. Thiago has the quality to succeed at Barca. But he’d play a lot more at another club.'

Despite being born in Italy Thiago moved to Spain aged five, signing for Barca just nine years later at the age of 14.