According to South Korean TV news, Manchester United have offered a trial to FC SeoulÂ’s young midfield star Ki Sung-yong.
National broadcasters KBS reported that the Premier League champions were impressed by the 18 year-old when the two teams met in an exhibition in the Korean capital in July.
At the time, United coach Alex Ferguson told the media that he was interested in a number of young South Korean players.
After signing Park Ji-sung in July 2005, the Old Trafford have indicated that they would like to recruit another Korean.
Ki, who said recently that he wanted to play like Steven Gerrard, has impressed this season and while the talented teenager has yet to appear for the national team, he has broken into the Under-23 line-up.
A source close to his agent told KBS that the reports were only partly true.
“We haven’t received an official offer but we are aware of (United’s) interest.”
FC Seoul wasted no time in denying the report.
“There is no truth to this,” said a club official.“We have had no contact or received any documents and as we are in the middle of the season, it would be difficult.”