United hold talks with wonderkid Adejenughure

Manchester United has reportedly initiated talks with the representatives of Oghenetejiri Adejenughure, a promising young footballer of Nigerian-Austrian descent.

Although he has not yet made his debut for Red Bull Salzburg’s senior team, 17-year-old Oghenetejiri Adejenughure is currently under contract with the Austrian club, where he has been developing his skills and awaiting an opportunity to break into the first team.

Adejenughure scored 16 times in 20 appearances at Under-18s level last term, though, and he has also managed eight goals in 12 outings for Austria Under-17s.

A host of clubs, including AC Milan and Borussia Dortmund, are said to be tracking the forward, but according to The Express, there is also firm interest from Man United.

The report claims that the Red Devils have held talks with the teenager’s representatives to discuss the possibility of moving to the 20-time English champions.

Austria head coach Ralf Rangnick, who was previously in charge of Man United on an interim basis, has allegedly earmarked the teenager as a future star.

Adejenughure is likely to turn out for Salzburg’s reverse team in Austria’s second division if he does stay this summer, but a number of clubs are seemingly hoping to put a deal in place.

A senior call-up for Austria is also allegedly not far away for the youngster who is also eligible to represent Nigeria, and the 2024/24 campaign is set to be a breakthrough season for the in-demand forward.

Man United’s new minority shareholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe is targeting youngsters as part of his strategy at Old Trafford, with the club no longer expected to play out large fees for ageing players.

Rasmus Hojlund, 21, was the top scorer for the club in his first campaign at the club, finding the back of the net on 16 occasions in all competitions last season.

In the 2023-24 season, Alejandro Garnacho, aged 19, impressed with a tally of 10 goals and 5 assists across 50 appearances, while fellow teenager Kobbie Mainoo, also 19, contributed 5 goals and 1 assist in 32 matches.

Hojlund, Garnacho, and Mainoo are said to be among six players that Manchester United considers ‘unsellable’, and the club’s faith in youth is further demonstrated by the involvement of Harry Amass (17) and Ethan Wheatley (18) with the first team towards the end of last season.

Punch