Manchester United set to beat Chelsea to Watford starlet Harry Amass, 16, after breakthrough in talks

Manchester United are expected to beat Chelsea to the signing of Watford left-back Harry Amass.

The England Under-16s defender is in advanced talks with the Carabao Cup winners, opting to leave Vicarage Road despite making the first-team squad in January at just 15 years old.

Now 16, the attacking full-back believes that training in a top academy will further his development more quickly rather than remaining in the Championship where he can get a fast-tracked route to the first team.

Amass will be welcomed at Old Trafford having been tracked by England’s biggest clubs since breaking into the national set up at St George’s Park in 2021.

He has long been one of the youngest regular starters in the Hornets Under-18s side under Charlie Daniels, currently eighth in the Professional Development League table after a run of defeats.

He also won silverware for England at the UEFA Development tournament just last month.