Manchester United Transfer News: Major Goncalo Guedes, Sofiane Boufal Rumours

Manchester United are close to agreeing a deal for Benfica wonderkid Goncalo Guedes, but the competition of rivals Manchester City could see their move for Lille attacker Sofiane Boufal derailed.

According to a report from Portuguese newspaper A Bola, the Red Devils have stepped up their interest in Guedes this season and are close to taking action (via Italian outlet Calciomercato, h/t Metro's George Bellshaw).

The report read:

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The Red Devils are desperate to sign the winger, who has been branded as the ‘new Cristiano Ronaldo’, to the club in January.

The Portuguese star has been a mainstay in the Benfica side this season and has netted four times, including a goal in the Champions League. 

United have been impressed by the 19-year-old and are now very close to sealing a move for him

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Guedes made his Primeira Liga debut for Benfica earlier this year and has since taken the division by storm, earning his first senior Portugal cap in November.

The 19-year-old winger is described by Bellshaw as "the new Cristiano Ronaldo," and United could certainly do with some rejuvenation in attack after seeing the goal-shy methods of manager Louis van Gaal questioned of late.

Guedes has scored four goals and made six assists in 21 appearances across all competitions this season, but Benfica are sure to fight to retain the services of one of their brightest gems.

BeIN Sports reporter David Cartlidge insisted Atletico Madrid had "no answers" for the winger in their first Champions League meeting against the Eagles earlier this season:

Guedes has five-and-a-half years remaining on his contract at the Estadio da Luz, and Benfica won't feel threatened by the prospect of losing their starlet unless he actively pursues an exit from the Lisbon giants.

Elsewhere, French television programme Telefoot (h/t talkSPORT) reported on Monday that Premier League powerhouses Manchester United and Manchester City will both enter the race to clinch Boufal's signature in 2016.

PASCAL PAVANI/Getty Images

The 22-year-old has impressed as one of Lille's few bright points in attack so far this season, and the club's mid-table status in Ligue 1 opens them up to the possibility of losing top talents next year.

Bleacher Report's Jonathan Johnson reported the two Manchester giants will also have to fight off competition from Paris Saint-Germain, Inter, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur if they're to sign the winger:

Boufal is a similar talent to Guedes in that he can also switch from the flanks into a more central reserve, but the Paris native is undoubtedly most dangerous from out wide.

BT Sport showed precisely what a threat Boufal can be on goal, having netted five times in 15 Ligue 1 appearances so far this season:

Of the pair, Boufal may be the easier target to secure based on how Lille fare this season despite the fact that the playmaker moved to the Stade Pierre-Mauroy just this past summer.

The maestro is attracting a wave of transfer attention leading into 2016, but United will be hard-pressed to win the race for a player being hunted by some of Europe's biggest outfits.