Source: Manchester_EveningNews
United eye up move for Stockport starlet
Stockport County youth team captain Sam Barnes could be on the verge of a dream move to Manchester United. The 18-year-old centre-half won rave reviews for his performance in County's 1-0 Manchester Senior Cup defeat to the Reds last Monday night. And although he is yet to make his first-team debut for the Hatters, United reserve team boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was impressed enough to recommend the Liverpool-born starlet to Sir Alex Ferguson. "Their skipper had a great game," said Solskjaer. "He's a strong centre-half who reads the game well and has good pace. "I'll be recommending him to the gaffer." Any move for Barnes - who was an unused substitute in Stockport's goalless League One draw with Gillingham on Saturday - would have to be given the green light by both County's administrators Leonard Curtis and manager Gary Ablett. County's precarious financial position has already forced the club to sell a number of first-team regulars and with the Hatters' future still not secure, United may feel they can pinch Barnes - who is also said to be interesting Everton - on the cheap. However, Ablett would be loathed to lose a prospect he regards as a future star at Edgeley Park. "The lads were excellent against United and their staff were very impressed," said the County boss. "But even if we do come out of administration there is not going to be a lot of money to spend and the club is going to have to rely on players like Sam to take the club forward."
