Rayan makes Man United admission as Mauricio Pochettino given transfer hope

Bournemouth forward Rayan, a Manchester United supporter, has revealed his affection for the club as Pochettino prepares a January rebuild, though Bournemouth won't sell in winter.

Bournemouth's Brazilian forward Rayan has given Manchester United a potential transfer advantage by publicly revealing his long-standing support for the club. The 20-year-old, who scored in Bournemouth's 3-0 win at Old Trafford last month, told ESPN Brasil that he has always backed United and even discussed the possibility of playing there with his family.

He cited Cristiano Ronaldo as the reason for his allegiance and spoke of the honour of beating his boyhood club.

Rayan was on United's radar while at Vasco da Gama but the club failed to make an offer at that time. He has since become one of the Premier League's most sought-after young forwards. Pochettino is expected to be backed with significant transfer funds in January as he begins a squad rebuild, with defence his immediate priority.

However, Bournemouth have made clear they have no intention of selling Rayan in the winter window, meaning United may have to wait until summer to pursue the Brazilian.