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Turkish Super Lig club Trabzonspor’s 19-year-old Ivorian midfielder Christ Inao Oulai is attracting strong interest from both Manchester clubs, with reports indicating that the red and blue sides of the city are preparing a landmark deal to add him to their rosters in the winter transfer window, according to English media.
Manchester United has reportedly re-engaged with the player’s representatives in recent weeks, backed by the personal endorsement of manager Ruben Amorim, who is said to view Oulai as a long-term midfield solution to replace Brazilian international Casemiro, according to the British sports outlet TeamTalk.
Oulai joined Trabzonspor from French side SC Bastia during the summer transfer window for a €5.5 million ($6.46 million) fee, signing a contract that runs until 2030, and has since become a regular starter, making 10 appearances, scoring two goals, and providing three assists.
His performances have drawn widespread comparisons with former Manchester City and Barcelona midfielder Yaya Toure, who is also Ivorian. While his current market value stands at €4 million, according to Transfermarkt, the Black Sea club is reportedly seeking a bid of at least €40 million ($47.05 million).
Manchester City, who had already identified Oulai as a priority target, remains in strong contention, as Pep Guardiola’s side reportedly views him as a future partner, or even successor, to Spanish international Rodri.
Alongside the Manchester giants, Oulai is also on the transfer radar of German powerhouse Bayern Munich, which is looking to inject fresh energy into an ageing midfield core amid ongoing squad changes.
Although a transfer in the January window appears unlikely due to Trabzonspor’s firm stance, United’s recent outreach signals preparations for a possible summer bid, the report noted.
According to the CIES Football Observatory's latest weekly post, Oulai is among the top young talents of the future, with a transfer value of €10.4 million as of December, and that figure is expected to reach €25.2 million by June 2026.
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