Manchester United manager David Moyes is weighing up a move for Swiss wonderkid Michael Gonçalves, according to the Daily Star. Moyes recently reiterated his desire to continue with the club's policy under predecessor Sir Alex Ferguson of developing youth players, pointing to the signing of Adnan Januzaj as a continuation of this. And now, he's set his sights on Gonçalves, the 18-year-old defender currently plying his trade for Basel and Switzerland's U-21 side. Writing in his programme column for United Review, Moyes commented recently:
"Signing Adnan Januzaj on a new five-year contract at Old Trafford shows the club's willingness to go out and try to sign the best players. "Young footballers get opportunities to progress here at Manchester United and I have no doubt that, in the future, Adnan will become a top player. He is 18 years old, has good ability, plus maturity beyond his years."
By pledging that the club will continue to seek and then nurture the game's youngest and brightest stars, Moyes is offering United supporters hope during these turbulent times. The Red Devils failed to land any of their top transfer targets over the summer, but Januzaj has been one of only a few success stories under Moyes's brief tenure at Old Trafford so far. And by setting his sights on Gonçalves, the ex-Everton boss is proving that he is willing to continue putting his faith in starlets, just as Ferguson did. The potential capture of Gonçalves would make him the second Swiss U-19 squad member to join United this term, after Moyes also agreed a deal for Saidy Janko of FC Zurich in September. Moyes moved for the 17-year-old after being impressed by the right-back's performances at this year's FIFA Blue Stars Tournament.
Joseph is an accredited football journalist and has interviewed nearly all of the current 20 Barclay's Premier League managers. He is also a correspondent for Bleacher Report and has written for Caught Offside and Give Me Football.
