MANCHESTER United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has snapped up French midfield starlet Paul Pogba - under the nose of Arsenal chief Arsene Wenger. (Daily Mirror)Ferguson has tied up a deal to land the 16-year-old youth international who plays for crack nursery club Le Havre and the kid has opted for United ahead of the Gunners.

MANCHESTER United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has snapped up French midfield starlet Paul Pogba - under the nose of Arsenal chief Arsene Wenger. (Daily Mirror)

Ferguson has tied up a deal to land the 16-year-old youth international who plays for crack nursery club Le Havre and the kid has opted for United ahead of the Gunners.

It is a major signing triumph for Ferguson who has been unable to dominate the French market in the past few years because of Wenger's name and contacts.

However United have been working on the deal for months and the defensive midfielder, a regular in the national under-16 side, will join their list of talented kids.

Ferguson is working overtime on recruiting the next generation while also chasing the double at first team level, with Pogba's signature now imminent.

Pogba can leave Le Havre in the summer - with the fee to be based on appearances and compensation on his 'education' at the Ligue One outfit.