Manchester United transfer news: Jose Mourinho makes first signing of the window after snapping-up Espanyol wonderkid Arnau Puigmal
Red Devils secure Spanish teen sensation as Portuguese boss gets his summer recruitment underway early
MANCHESTER UNITED have made their first signing of the summer by securing Espanyol whizzkid Arnau Puigmal.
The 16-year-old will reportedly move to Old Trafford when the transfer window opens next month.
Reports in Spanish publicationt claim that the Red Devils have already reached an agreement on a lucrative contract with the teen star.
Puigmal has already been told of the plans to develop him into a first-team player at United over the coming years.
Jose Mourinho's side have moved quickly to secure his signature.
United fear losing even more ground to neighbours City and their state-of-the-art academy.
MOST READ IN FOOTBALL
Although the Citizens are banned from signing youth players from fellow English clubs, they are still able to snap-up talent from around the world.
But United will feel like they have stolen a march by securing the highly-rated Puigmal, and they are expected to formally announce his arrival in the upcoming weeks.
Puigmal's exit is a massive blow to La Liga side Espanyol.
They hoped he would remain at the club and break into their first-team.
He joined the academy at Periquitos in 2010 from Sant Cugat, a club based in the north-west of Barcelona.