Manchester United and Chelsea keeping an eye on Danish prodigy

Manchester United and Chelsea are said to be monitoring the progress of 19 year-old Danish sensation, Nicolai Boilesen.

The youngster, who earned his professional Ajax debut earlier this year, had already trained with United before deciding to join the Dutch giants instead. Boilesen, who plays alongside compatriot Christian Eriksen at Ajax, also earned his first international call-up in 2011, drawing a heap of European interest in the process.

Both Chelsea and the current Premier League champions have aging senior left-backs with Ashley Cole and Patrice Evra, respectively. The duo have also been linked with moves away from their clubs in recent seasons, with Evra close to signing a deal with Real Madrid last summer.

The Dane also plays at centre-back, a versatility that both Andre Villas Boas and Sir Alex Fergsuon will find promising in a defender of Boilesen’s age. De Amsterdammers, as Ajax are known, are famed for their academy and the ability they have to squeeze the best out of the youth they have at their disposal.

Starlets such as Boilesen are bound to become hot property in the coming transfer windows as Financial Fair Play tightens the clasp on big money transfers spent on players in their prime, with managers instead investing in the youth as investments for the future.