Manchester United are among a host of clubs keeping tabs on Preston North End’s prodigious teenage talent Felipe Rodriguez-Gentile.

What’s the word?

According to The Mirror, Red Devils boss Erik ten Hag is among the suitors for the 16-year-old forward, who came to attention after sinking Rotherham with five goals in a 6-1 FA Youth Cup win earlier this month.

Reportedly scoring 18 times from just ten appearances for Preston’s development squad this season, United are joined by the likes of Liverpool, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur in their intrigue. 

Speaking to Preston’s official website, he praised the “amazing club” and lauded his development since his arrival three years ago. 

The Red Devils could now be set to pounce, despite claims that he has alreasy agreed a two-year pre-scholarship deal at Deepdale.

Imagine him and Garnacho

The South American starlet was hailed by Preston's official Twitter channel for his “bit of Brazilian magic” after sealing his hat-trick with a gorgeous strike in the rout over Rotherham, displaying every ounce of the offensive aptitude required to prosper as a top-class forward in the future.

Speaking to the club’s media platform earlier this month, Lilywhites boss Ryan Lowe spoke of his adulation for the budding star's progress, hinting at an appearance in the first-team in the near future.

The 44-year-old said: “He’s a good little player, we’ve got to be careful he’s only 16 but he will come up and train with us soon. He’s an exciting prospect, we will obviously keep tabs on him but we can’t let ourselves get too carried away with him yet.”

Born in Brazil but yet to make an appearance for the nation’s youth teams, Rodriguez-Gentile could emulate the success of the likes of Alejandro Garnacho within the Red Devils' ranks, with the club signing the Argentine from Atletico Madrid in 2020 when he was just 16.

Now 18, Garnacho has forged his way into the United first-team, scoring two goals and grabbing two assists across his first 11 professional appearances, including a monumental stoppage-time winner at Fulham in the club’s last Premier League match, keeping his team within three points of the Champions League places with a game in hand.

Should the Preston starlet indeed choose to test his mettle with United, he can hold the knowledge that this is a club renowned for putting the onus on youth, offering a clear pathway to a shot at senior action.

Time is on his side, but if Manchester United come calling, the offer might just be too good to resist. Imagine the prospect of him and Garnacho dovetailing with one another at Old Trafford in years to come...