Manchester City, Manchester United, and Newcastle United are reportedly interested in Assan Ouedraogo, but a move will unlikely see the light of day.
According to a report by Fussball News, Assan Ouedraogo is gaining popularity in the market. Several Premier League bigwigs, including Manchester City, Manchester United and Newcastle United, are keen on signing the 17-year-old Schalke 04 prodigy. However, a move will not see the light of day in the summer transfer window, as he has a long way to go before he builds up his fitness.
Who is Assan Ouedraogo?
Assan Ouedraogo is the latest highly-rated prospect to rise in prominence in Germany. A native of Mülheim an der Ruhr, the teenage sensation is also eligible to represent Burkina Faso. However, he has chosen Germany as his national side thus far at the age-group level.
Meanwhile, the 17-year-old began his youth career at TuS Union 09 Mülheim before graduating from the FC Schalke 04 youth division. The youngster has already turned out 15 times thus far for Schalke since making his first-team debut, chipping in with two goals and two assists. Meanwhile, Ouedraogo’s progress has not gone unnoticed, alerting several high-profile clubs, including Manchester City, Manchester United and Newcastle United.
High in demand
Manchester City’s interest in Ouedraogo is not surprising, considering Pep Guardiola has been open to grooming youngsters during his stint at the Etihad. Phil Foden has established himself as a pivotal figure for Manchester City, while Oscar Bobb and Rico Lewis have risen in prominence this season. So, Ouedraogo is a viable target for Manchester City.
As for Manchester United, the club’s first links with Assan Ouedraogo came in October. Since then, the Red Devils have closely monitored the youngster’s progress at FC Schalke 04. And the 17-year-old prodigy can potentially be Kobbie Mainoo’s long-term central midfield partner.
Recent reports have also linked Ouedraogo with Newcastle United. The Magpies have given a lot of focus to recruiting highly-rated prospects since the Saudi owners came to the scene. Garang Kuol and Yankuba Minteh are among the prodigies to join Newcastle United. And the Schalke wonderkid is an option worth considering.
However, a summer move might not see the light of day, as a few fitness issues have meant that he has not physically developed much. So, signing Ouedraogo and integrating him into the first-team squad will be a gamble. However, it will be interesting to see if any club will take a chance this summer.
