Following the injury to Patrick Dorgu, a player who will spend several weeks in recovery, Manchester United has decided to establish communication with Kader Meite, an attacker who plays for Rennes.

With less than six days remaining until the closure of the winter market, Manchester United could recruit a new attacker. After losing the versatile Patrick Dorgu to injury, the Red Devils have decided to close in on a forward they like.

In recent hours, Manchester United officials have contacted Rennes to learn about the situation of Kader Meite, according to Sky Sports. The forward, only 18 years old, is completing an interesting season with the French club, scoring three goals and providing two assists in 19 official matches.

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With a contract in effect until June 2028, the signing of the player born in Creteil will involve tough negotiations with his current team. The French side has no intention of facilitating their player's departure and will only relent if they receive truly attractive amounts. 

Meite is one of the latest prospects to emerge from the talent cradle that is Paris and its surrounding banlieues. He was born to Ivorian parents in the Creteil neighborhood, in the southeast of the city, in October 2007.

Meite would make rapid progress through the age groups, rubbing shoulders with the big boys, as he regularly played for the Under-19s in the 2023/24 campaign after debuting at 15, and even featured for the Rennes reserves in February 2024. He was also included in the France squad for the Under-17 European Championship in early summer.

"He knows how to stay in the box and use his physique," said Rennes coach Habib Beye, a former Newcastle defender, recently.

As he has shown in a couple of his goal involvements so far this season, the 18-year-old is already adept in hold-up play, proving to be an immovable object when he has a defender pinned, and has the strength to control what happens next. He certainly will not back down from a battle, as he showed by going toe-to-toe with Paris Saint-Germain veteran Marquinhos last season.

A regular in the youth categories of the French National Team (he currently plays for the Under-21s), the young Meite stands out for the physical prowess granted by his 192 centimeters in height, his shooting ability, and his excellent ball control. Al-Hilal has also shown interest in signing him, but the forward has no intention of heading to Saudi Arabia at this point in his career.

The interest could intensify if Joshua Zirkzee, who is attracting attention from Juventus, departs. For now, Manchester United expects a fairly quiet end to the transfer window.

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