Roland Cutinho
Manchester United in talks to sign Croatian club NK Kustosija sensation Dino Klapija
According to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano (h/t the Daily Mail), Manchester United are in talks to sign Croatian wonderkid Dino Klapija but face competition from several clubs.
The Red Devils, along with German side RB Leipzig, are showing significant interest in the 16-year-old striker, who has a range of options for his next club.
Negotiations are actively underway for his transfer. Meanwhile, La Liga powerhouse Barcelona, the Italian clubs AC Milan and Juventus, and rival Chelsea are also expressing strong interest in signing Klapija.
The youngster’s early career saw him play as a midfielder in the New York City academy, even earning a cap with the U-16 USA national team. However, he later moved with his family to Croatia and joined Dinamo Zagreb.
Initially, it was expected that the striker would commit to a professional contract with Dinamo. However, another Croatian club, NK Kustosija, based in Zagreb, intervened with an attractive proposal.
As a result, Klapija opted to sign with his new club and join their U-17 squad. While part of Kustosija, he also had opportunities to train with their senior team and the Croatian U-17 national team.
His standout performances for the national team have hugely impressed scouts from top European clubs.
The competition to sign the highly-rated forward is fierce, with a potential fee exceeding £5 million being discussed. This is a high price for such a young player with limited European experience.
Meanwhile, Man United are actively exploring various youth players, and they recently kept tabs on Norwegian talent Sverre Nypan.
Their intention is to strengthen their future striker options, recognising the scarcity of young talents in that position. Rasmus Hojlund’s recent arrival shows their interest in this particular player profile, as they want to pursue a similar strategy in their pursuit of signing Klapija.
United views the Croatian star as a long-term investment. However, it’s important to note that the Red Devils currently face restrictions on signing young foreign players.
In the past, they were able to secure talents like Alejandro Garnacho when they were 16, before the implementation of certain rules.
Now, they have been inviting young talents from abroad for trials and showcasing their facilities at Carrington. However, at present, they simply have to wait until they reach 18, which might make them more expensive or already acquired by other clubs.
One potential solution for United is to establish partnerships with foreign clubs to loan out young talents or negotiate loan deals that allow these players to continue developing at their parent clubs until they turn 18.
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Chelsea have been doing the same in this transfer window, and United could follow suit. It will help them provide loan experience to the player and ultimately incorporate him into the team after he is deemed eligible.
