Manchester United 'join race' to sign Austrian wonderkid dubbed 'next Erling Haaland'
Manchester United are reportedly in the hunt for Austria wonderkid Oghenetejiri Adejenughure
Manchester United have reportedly joined the race to sign Austrian talent Oghenetejiri Adejenughure, who has been likened to Manchester City star Erling Haaland.
According to the Daily Star, Ruben Amorim's side are among a host of European clubs keeping tabs on the 18-year-old, with United now sending agents to get a closer look with the view to lure him to Old Trafford in the summer.
The Liefering striker has been in fine form throughout the Austrian youth ranks and caught the eye during the U17 European Championships in Cyprus - where he contributed four goals. Adejenughure is being tipped to follow in the footsteps of Haaland and has already caught the eye of Austria national team head coach Ralf Rangnick after being invited to train with the senior players.
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The Star reports that United are keen to reinforce their attacking options this summer, but the 18-year-old is more regarded as a signing for the future. However, the attraction with the Austrian is that he could be acquired for a small fortune and with the right nurturing could see them unearth the next attacking giant.
There is competition from the likes of AC Milan and Borussia Dortmund, according to the reports. United previously missed out on Haaland during his time at Norwegian side Molde.
Red Bull would snap him up for their club model, which saw him sharpen his tools at RB Salzburg before a move to the Bundesliga was on the table. Former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said: "I had him [Erling Haaland] in Molde for two seasons. The summer before I got here [Manchester United], I rang the club and said, ‘You’ve got to sign this boy – he’ll be top class’.
"That was June/July 2018, and they said no – they had enough reports on players. Then I became the caretaker manager [of United], and we’d sold Haaland to RB Salzburg.
"I tell the club straight away to buy him while he has a release clause. We knew that then, and no one else would’ve paid the money - €20 million, it would’ve been a bargain. Even though with his links with Alfie [Haaland], and Manchester City and Leeds.
"It was the club’s decision to not go for it then. We never made bids or went in for him, until after he started scoring for Salzburg. By then, Borussia Dortmund were there, Juventus were there, everyone was there. His release clause then was still good - €60 million.
"He’s got more than just being a great lad. He’s such a team player, and one-on-one with a keeper, he doesn’t think about his own stats. He passes if someone else is through and it’ll be a 100% goal. He’s a gem."
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