Manchester United and Chelsea are among the clubs battling to sign Schalke teenager Assan Ouedraogo.
Ouedraogo has been promoted to the senior side at Schalke following the club’s relegation to the 2. Bundesliga last season and marked his debut with a goal against Hamburger S earlier this season, becoming the youngest goalscorer in the German club’s history.
[dugoutvideo id=”eyJrZXkiOiI3RExhcUNyYyIsInAiOiJ0aGUtZm9vdGJhbGwtZmFpdGhmdWwiLCJwbCI6IiJ9″ partner=”the-football-faithful”]
The 17-year-old’s breakthrough has alerted a number of top clubs across Europe, with Manchester United, Chelsea and Bayern Munich all tracking his progress in Gelsenkirchen.
Ouedraogo impressed as Germany won the 2023 UEFA European Under-17 Championship during the summer and converted the decisive spot-kick in the final win over France.
The teenager – whose father represented Burkina Faso at international level – has been likened in style to Paul Pogba for his box-to-box influence.
Team Talk are reporting that offers would need to start in excess of £15m for Ouedraogo, though Schalke are keen to bring in as big a fee as possible for the brightest talent to emerge from the club’s ranks in several seasons.
The German side have Ouedraogo tied down to a contract until 2027, with his professional deal to come into effect from his 18th birthday in May 2024.
Read – Five other greats who retired early from football like Eden Hazard
Read Also – Six Premier League players in line for international debuts this month