Manchester United to make official proposal for Palmeiras forward Gabriel Jesus

Manchester United have agreed to pay a fee of €38m (£31.8m, $41.7m) in signing Gabriel Jesus. The 19-year-old joined Palmeiras in 2013 and spent two years in the club's youth system, before breaking into the first team.

After impressing for Brazil Under-20 in the 2015 Under-20 World Cup in New Zealand, he was a regular inclusion in the first team. Brazil lost the Under-20 World Cup to Serbia in the final and Jesus emerged as one of the upcoming prospects.

The forward has been the star player in this season's Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A, scoring 10 goals and managing four assists. Jesus's form for Palmeiras has seen him attract interest from United and also their league rivals Manchester City.

According to the Brazilian publication Globoesporte, the Red Devils are set to make an official proposal for the star forward in the next few days and talks have already taken place through Brazilian intermediaries. They are waiting for paperwork from United to submit it to Palmeiras.

However, the 20-time English champions must beat City in bringing Jesus to Old Trafford. Pep Guardiola has already held talks with the teenager and he remains convinced of joining City. They have made an offer of €32m (£26.8m, $35.1m), which is €6m less than that their arch-rivals are offering for the player.

Jesus's agent Cristiano Simoes confirmed talks with City and also suggested that they are dealing with contractual issues.

"I can say that we are defining some contractual issues [with Manchester City], we are dealing with that," Simoes told Calciomercato, as quoted by Goal.com.

United now have to use Jose Mourinho to convince Jesus to snub Guardiola's side to join the Portuguese tactician at Old Trafford. To beat City, the Premier League giants have tabled an offer, which is higher than that of the Citizens.