According to reports in The Sun, Manchester United have received a huge boost in their pursuit of Fulham starlet Ryan Sessegnon with the Championship outfit stepping up their bid to sign a new left-back in the January transfer window.

What's the word, then?

Well, The Sun says that United – along with Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur – are keeping tabs on the highly-rated 17-year-old, who is rated at £50m according to reports in The Sun in October, with Jose Mourinho potentially looking for a new left-back or left wing-back in the New Year with Luke Shaw's future still yet to convince the Portuguese boss that he has a long-term future at Old Trafford.

Despite only turning 17 in May, the England U19 international continues to make waves for Fulham and has been tipped for a bright future having already made 53 senior appearances for the Cottagers.

How has Sessegnon done this season?

He has once again been excellent, considering his tender years.

The 17-year-old has scored four goals and provided a further two assists in 23 appearances in all competitions for the Championship side, and he scored a hat-trick on his 50th outing for the club as they beat Sheffield United 5-4 at Bramall Lane last month, with the treble including two fine finishes with his weaker right foot.

Sessegnon can play either as left-back or further up the pitch, and that is something that is likely to have impressed Mourinho.

Would he be a good signing for United?

While he certainly has the potential and ability to be the Red Devils' first choice on the left-hand side in the future depending on what system Mourinho plans to use, it remains to be seen whether the Portuguese manager would be willing to make him a first-team regular straight away given his age and lack of top-level experience.

Will they get him?

It's difficult to say.

While Sessegnon would obviously be attracted by the chance to join a club like United, he may need assurances over how often he would play as he would perhaps be more likely to get regular game time with Tottenham given Mauricio Pochettino's tendency to give young players an opportunity.

His potential £50m price tag may also be seen as an issue.

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