---
title: "City attempted to poach United prospect"
canonical: "https://readmanutd.com/2015/11/01/city-attempted-poach-united-prospect/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
section: "Man Utd Transfer News"
published: "2015-11-01T06:40:39Z"
modified: "2015-11-01T06:40:39Z"
---

# City attempted to poach United prospect

Manchester City reportedly made an attempt to poach Manchester United starlet Callum Gribbin, according to the [Daily Mirror](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/revealed-man-city-offered-man-6744607#rlabs=1%20rt$category%20p$2).

According to the paper, City were willing to pay the 16-year old a mind-boggling £11,000-a-week to bring the England youth international to the Etihad Stadium.

Gribbin, who is seen at Old Trafford as one of the stars of the future, was unsettled at the club, and members of United’s top brass – including assistant manager Ryan Giggs – intervened and persuaded him to sign a new deal to stay at the club.

The attacking midfielder has been likened in style to Giggs and has already trained with the first team. However, he mostly plays for the Under-18s, although he did make his Under-21 debut for United in the final game of last season – ironically against City.

![Tony Marshall/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readmanutd.com/readmanutd/2015/10/454343366.jpg)

City’s interest in Gribbin was part of a strategy to recruit some of the country’s best young talents, and their tactics have angered some clubs, who are angry that the Citizens are throwing money to poach some of England’s top young prospects, but United have fought off the money to secure the services of one of their top talents.

United’s Under-19 manager Paul McGuinness described Gribbin as a very special player:

> *Callum’s a very talented player and the type English football does not have a lot of. He can keep the ball with people around him. He can manipulate it and give space for a creative pass. Also, he’s waiting to look for a creative pass all the time too.*
>
> *Other parts of his game are improving as well, his work-rate is better and he’s winning the ball back better. He has had a dramatic rise really in this team and it’s really helped develop him to be forced into those situations.*