Lucas Moura: Manchester United Must Continue to Chase Rising Star

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has been on the trail of Brazilian sensation Lucas Moura but hasn't been able to finalize a deal with Sao Paulo. Despite the disappointment of not getting a deal done yet, Ferguson shouldn't stop the pursuit.

John Edwards of the Daily Mail reports that, while the Red Devils have already been pushed to £30 million by Lucas' current squad, the final price is expected to reach the area of £40 million. Inter Milan has also been linked to the Olympic-bound star.

Lucas has quickly developed into one of the most talented young players in South America. He's scored 26 goals and added 20 assists in 104 games with Sao Paulo, making him a prime target for some of the world's top teams while his stock continues to skyrocket.

The 19-year-old attacking midfielder has already secured 15 appearances with the Brazilian national team. That alone shows how much confidence there is that he will become the next major superstar from the football-hungry nation.

While it would be easy for Ferguson to walk away from the negotiating table after several failed attempts, he would eventually come to regret that decision. Players like Lucas don't come around often, and he has a golden opportunity to land one.

He can't blame Sao Paulo for trying to squeeze every last penny out of the deal because Lucas is an extremely valuable asset and it would be nearly impossible to replace him in the short term.

Whether that means pitting high-spending clubs against each other or playing hard to get, Sao Paulo will do whatever it takes to make sure Lucas doesn't leave without the team getting a great deal.

The key for Ferguson will be continuing to press the issue. The report states Lucas will receive a bigger cut of any transfer fee starting on August 1, so that means the team will have to move him before then to maximize their profit.

If United continues to express serious interest in the dynamic midfielder, it's safe to assume Sao Paulo might start budging off their sky-high price a little bit as that deadline nears.

Lucas would be a tremendous addition to the Red Devils. Ferguson has spent a lot of time over the past few years trying to pinpoint young players who will make a long-term impact on the club, and Lucas definitely falls into that category.

His combination of pace and incredible poise for a teenager gives him a great chance to make that transfer fee seem like chump change within a few seasons. It's players like him that are worth taking a chance on because of the incredible upside.

Ferguson should continue the pursuit until a deal gets done or Lucas is officially off the table.