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Manchester United Transfer News: Red Devils Must Not Overspend for Lucas Moura

Nicholas Goss@@NicholasGoss35X.com LogoCorrespondent IJuly 14, 2012

SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND - MAY 13:  Sir Alex Ferguson of Manchester United expresses himself during the Barclays Premier League match between Sunderland and Manchester United at Stadium of Light on May 13, 2012 in Sunderland, England.  (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
Clive Mason/Getty Images

Manchester United should continue their pursuit of Brazilian midfielder Lucas Moura but must not overspend to bring him to the Premier League.

Fresh reports have suggested that Manchester United have tabled a bid in the region of £26million, but Sao Paulo have no intention of cashing in on the youngster.

"It is a risk not selling Lucas, but we are going to take it," president Juvenal Juvencio is quoted as saying in the Daily Mail.

Sir Alex Ferguson should not go higher than £26 million, which is a strong bid for a player that has never played for a club outside of Brazil. There's no debating Moura's level of skill, but bringing a young player without a lot of physical strength to the Premier League as a 19-year-old has a good amount of risk attached to it.

Moura has impressive pace for a central midfielder and can not only pass the ball very well, but he can also score goals in the attacking third of the pitch. His attacking talents are extraordinary, but with Tom Cleverley and Shinji Kagawa already giving the United midfield some young skill, there really isn't a need for Moura at Old Trafford.

One of the only reasons for Ferguson to increase his bid would be to prevent Moura from signing with a fellow Premier League contender such as Chelsea, but the Red Devils will not win a bidding war with the Blues for the Brazilian if it ever came to that.

Moura, for obvious reasons, would be a great fit at United, but he is not worth overpaying for because of his lack of experience in top football leagues.

In the mean time, Manchester United fans in England will get an opportunity to watch Moura play when Brazil arrives in London for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games.