United target Chinese star

Manchester United are close to signing teenage Chinese striker Dong Fanzhou according to Old Trafford manager Alex Ferguson.

The 18-year-old is currently playing for Dalian Shide in his native country and Ferguson confirmed in the US press today: “We’re signing a Chinese boy, hopefully in the next few weeks.”

Dong had a trial at Old Trafford in September and his club manager Lin Lefeng added: “What United have offered is not meant to be disclosed, but I can assure you that it is more than a million [pounds] we are talking about here.”

Signing Dong would of course give United added appeal to the millions of Chinese television viewers who follow Barclaycard Premiership football.