Manchester United have been monitoring a young midfield prodigy from Germany’s second tier who’s been hailed as the next Toni Kroos.
It is no secret that Sir Jim Ratcliffe wants to bring the idea of youth, courage and success back to the forefront of Manchester United ever since his takeover of the club.
The signings of the likes of Chido Obi, Sekou Kone and Diego Leon are clear indicators of what INEOS have in store for the future of the club.
Alongside the recent signings for the academy, the likes of Shea Lacey, JJ Gabriel and Jim Thwaites in the academy have been catching the eye of Ruben Amorim’s coaching staff and Jason Wilcox.
The club are showing no signs of slowing down with their approach of trying to sign the best prodigies for the future, with the hope some could even impress now.
United eyeing the ‘next Toni Kroos’
According to German outlet SportBILD, Man United have been scouting 16-year-old Hertha Berlin midfielder Kennet Eichhorn, who has been likened to Germany legend Toni Kroos during the early years of his career.
The German recently broke the record for being the youngest player to play in the 2. Bundesliga, highlighting the immense promise of the young starlet. Following the recent signing of a new contract, the report suggests that Hertha has placed a £17.6 million price tag on the teenager.
United are also looking to sign a new first-team midfielder and may have to spend between £90-100 million to secure a player Amorim needs, such as Carlos Baleba. Still, should they feel Eichhorn has the talent to succeed at the club in a few seasons’ time, he could cost up to five times less.
He has made eight appearances so far this season, often being deployed as the defensive midfielder. The media have been quick to liken him to German legend Toni Kroos for the technical ability he oozes and defensive nous.
Should United go for Eichhorn, he would not be able to join till he is 18 due to Brexit rules regarding foreign player registration.
Being a teenager playing in a professional league is bound to spark interest, and as such, the United would have to fend off Premier League rivals Manchester City, Arsenal, and Liverpool, who have also scouted the player.
An opportunity too good to turn down?
While £17.6 million is a huge fee for a 16-year-old who has only just made his debut in August, this is an opportunity United cannot miss out on.
This is a situation similar to the one in which United monitored then-16-year-old Jude Bellingham in 2020, who had just broken through at a similar age at Birmingham City. However, United missed out, and he went on to succeed at Borussia Dortmund and now Real Madrid.
While some may argue the pressure of joining United would be too much for such a young player, there is one thing he has going for him.
As he would not be able to join the team till he is 18, he could have two more years at Hertha to hone his craft and become more experienced.
Make sure to follow UtdDistrict on X, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok to never miss out on any of our Manchester United content. Our podcast, What the Devil?, is streamed live every Thursday at 14:00 pm (GMT) on the United View YouTube channel.