Manchester United linked to Ahmed Musa: Red Devils are competing for Leicester to attract the Nigerian star

The West African forward has been coveted by Leicester but may be on his way to Old Trafford

The CSKA forward Ahmed Musa (Getty Images)

With only two first-half goals at Old Trafford this season, Manchester United are on the lookout for a player to sharpen up their attack. According the reports that player may well be CSKA Moscow forward Ahmed Musa.

The 23-year-old Nigerian international has been coveted by Claudio Ranieri and Leicester City. The Foxes have been trying to tempt the ex-Dutch League footbaler to the King Power stadium with a £15.1 million opening bid. But it is thought the CSKA are still holding out for around £19 million, a figure United may well be ready to fork out.

Musa has had an interesting rise to the top. He was first scouted out by his local paper before joining Jos-based side Juth FC. A spell out Kano Pillars in Nigeria's top league saw him score 19 goals in 25 games; enough to alert sides in Europe.

The forward joined Eredevise side VVV-Venlo before joining CSKA Moscow for an undisclosed fee rumoured to be in the region of €10 million. Since 2012 he's played 113 games for the club, scoring 35 goals in the process and now looks like he might make his next step into the Premier League.

If the striker were to join and play for Manchester United he would be the first African player to do so since Quinton Fortune did in 2006. Whilst 18-year-old Axel Tuanzebe was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, he is yet to play a game for the senior side and has been in the United academy since 2013.