Manchester United are set to face fresh competition in pursuit of Isak Bergmann Johannesson, who is courted by Juventus among many other top clubs.
According to Mirror, Manchester United could be running the risk of losing out in the race to sign Isak Bergmann Johannesson. The Norrkoping midfielder is one of the most sought-after young players in Europe following his breakthrough in professional football, with Juventus among many top European clubs also interested in his services.
In fact, the Italian giants have stepped up their pursuit of Johannesson in recent weeks and are believed to have moved ahead of Manchester United in the pursuit of 17-year-old, who is courted by Premier League champions Liverpool as well.
Manchester United could still have the upper hand, however, as the youngster reportedly harbours the dream of playing at Old Trafford. It doesn’t come as a surprise at all given the fact that he had spent his childhood in Manchester. He is also the son of former Leicester City midfielder Joey Gudjonsson and the grandson of Gudjon Thordarson, who was a former Iceland international.
Johannesson himself made his Iceland debut earlier this month, featuring on as a substitute against England, even though his team did lose the game 4-0. It was quite a feat for the midfielder considering his age, though nothing surprising if his performances at Norrkoping are anything to go by.
Indeed, Johannesson has had a breakthrough campaign in Allsvenskan this year, taking part in 12 goals in 25 matches. His tally of nine assists is only bettered by three players including Swedish international Johan Larson.
As a result, the 17-year-old has been a subject of some major speculation regarding a potential move away from Norrkoping. The Swedish outfit reportedly want an initial transfer fee of £5 million, which can increase significantly through add-ons. It could even go as far as £10 million, though it doesn’t seem like a fortune for Manchester United.
The Red Devils are already poised for a potential overhaul in the upcoming January transfer window, with a host of players being linked with a move away from Old Trafford. Daniel James, for one, has been courted by Everton and his potential departure could pave the way for the club to make a move for someone like Johannesson.
However, Ed Woodward and his men will need to be swift in their pursuit of the Norrkoping midfielder, since clubs like Juventus and Liverpool won’t have any difficulty paying £5 million either, especially for someone like Johannesson, who is destined to become a star for his country in the coming years.
