Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is taking a keen interest in the development of Genoa striker Richmond Boakye according to reports from Italy.

Boakye has been sent out on loan to Serie B side Sassuolo by Genoa, as the Rossoblu bid to aid the 18-year-old’s progression with regular first team football.

But the Ghana-born striker has begun to rouse interest due to his feats with Sassuolo, an unwelcome development for his parent club, and he has found the back of the net an astonishing eight times in 13 games in Modena.

This has piqued Ferguson’s interest according to Corriere dello Sport and Genoa are growing concerned that Manchester United could make a swoop which turns the 18-year-old’s head.

Boakye was snapped up by Genoa in 2008 and placed in the club’s youth set-up, where he instantly made good on his promise, progressing through to Primavera level and helping the side’s Under-20s to numerous successes.

On the international stage too the striker soon earned recognition, turning out for Ghana’s Under-20s in 2010; thus far Boakye has found the back of the net once in three appearances for his country.

The Ghana striker has also already made his Serie A bow, coming on as a substitute in Genoa’s 1-1 draw with Livorno in April of last year – Boakye found the back of the net, scoring the first goal of the game.

Genoa would desperately love to keep hold of the promising starlet, but should Ferguson firm up his interest with an official approach, keeping Boakye out of the Old Trafford side’s hands will prove to be a difficult task.