Manchester City are attempting to overcome interest from Inter Milan, Juventus and Arsenal to sign Le Havre teenager Jules Ntcham, a 16 year-old billed as the most promising French youngster of his generation.
The midfielder, who captains the France Under-16 team, has resisted Le Havre’s attempts to tie him to a professional contract since his 16th birthday in February and could be available for no more than a small compensation fee this summer.
Le Havre, who are in the French second division, threatened to report Manchester United to Fifa for poaching teenage midfielder Paul Pogba in 2009 before dropping their threatened legal action.
But having lured Ntcham from the third division amateur club Paris FC, Le Havre now face a losing battle to resist interest in the player from Europe’s leading clubs.
Inter are understood to be in pole position to sign Ntcham, who has been likened to Marcel Desailly by French observers because of his ability to attack, defend and create.
But with City determined to recruit the best young talent in the world to the Etihad Stadium, senior figures at the club have identified Ntcham as a key target this summer.
