Fergie confirms Adu interest

Manchester United are keen on signing Freddy Adu if the American teenager can prove himself, Alex Ferguson has confirmed.

The 17-year-old is due to come to United for a two-week trial and could sign in the January transfer window.

Asked if he was interested in signing the midfielder, Ferguson said: “I think so, he’s only a young lad but we have known of him for a long time.

“We tried to get him here some years ago but he signed for DC United and that stopped the progress of us keeping tabs on him.”

Chelsea have also been linked with Adu, whose Major League Soccer season has been brought to an end by DC United’s failure to qualify for the end of year play-offs.

If Adu does enough to persuade Ferguson to offer him a permanent contract, a fee would have to be negotiated with MLS who, as with all US-based players, own Adu’s registration.