Manchester United, Chelsea, and Liverpool are reportedly interested in signing Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal in the summer transfer window.
According to Spanish outlet Fichajes, Liverpool, Chelsea, and Manchester United are all showing “clear interest” in landing Barcelona’s talented young winger Lamine Yamal next summer.
Barcelona have endured serious financial difficulties in recent years, but they are being pulled out of the hole by their world-class La Masia scouting and development set-up time and time again. 16-year-old Lamal is the latest teenager to make an impact on their first team.
The young winger played just seven minutes of football under Xavi last term, with his real break-out season arriving in the ongoing 2023–24 campaign. He became the youngest player to represent Barca in a first-team game, having featured against Real Betis in April at just 15 years, nine months, and 16 days old.
Despite his tender age, Yamal is emerging as an important player for Xavi. Indeed, he has appeared in 28 games so far this season, recording two goals and five assists in the process. These performances earned him a maiden call-up to the Spain national team, where he carried over his fine form with two goals in three matches for La Roja.
The youngster, who was born on the outskirts of Barcelona, is under contract through 2026 after agreeing his first professional deal. Yet, there have been reports in the Catalan media earlier this week that he might be looking for a way out due to the lack of game time, with just three outings coming in the past two months.
El Nacional suggests the young winger may have had his head turned by Premier League interest, with Liverpool, Chelsea, and Manchester United said to be sniffing around.
Barca’s tricky financial situation means they might have to consider selling some of their treasured assets, and the aforementioned suitors see it as an opportunity to secure a promising talent for a reasonable fee, with his market value estimated to be around €60 million.
Liverpool, for one, have him “in their sights” and believe he could learn from Egyptian superstar Mohamed Salah before eventually becoming a top-class forward replacement, with the latter attracting strong interest from Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Ittihad.
Yamal’s capture will not be straightforward for Jurgen Klopp’s side, though. This is because Chelsea and Manchester United are also monitoring his situation ahead of potentially swooping in with concrete moves of their own.
United boss Erik ten Hag is short of options on the flanks, with Brazilian trickster Antony failing to impress since his move from Ajax, while Jadon Sancho has been sent back to Dortmund on loan. The Blues’ have enough depth, but they are expected to continue signing some of the best youngsters in world football despite criticism over the performances of their young first-team squad under Mauricio Pochettino.
