United close in on first summer signing

Highly-rated Crewe Alexandra starlet Nick Powell will reportedly become Manchester United's first summer signing following next Sunday's League Two playoff final.

The 18-year-old has weighed in with an impressive 15 goals from midfield this season, and could yet fire Crewe to promotion in seemingly his final game for the club.

According to the Manchester Evening News, Powell has been tracked by Sir Alex Ferguson all season and will move to Old Trafford next week following his outing at Wembley.

Powell is rated at around £4 million and has been coveted by a number of Premier League clubs over the course of the campaign but, it would appear, Manchester United have won the race for his signature.

The teenager is the latest in a long line to have graduated from the famed Crewe academy, with a number of star names having been produced at Gresty Road.

Crewe can count Danny Murphy and Dean Ashton among their alumni, while they also relaunched the careers of David Platt and Robbie Savage after both were released by United.