Rapid Wien's Austrian forward Yusuf Demir runs with the ball during a training session of SK Rapid Wien on the eve of the third qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League football match between KAA Gent and SK Rapid Wien, on September 14, 2020, in Gent. (Photo by JASPER JACOBS / Belga / AFP) / Belgium OUT (Photo by JASPER JACOBS/Belga/AFP via Getty Images)
According to claims from Defensa Central (h/t Mirror), Man United have been credited with an interest in highly-rated youngster Yusuf Demir, who currently plies his trade with Rapid Vienna in the Austrian Bundesliga.
As per the report, the Red Devils are in talks with Rapid Vienna over a potential transfer for the left-footed attacking midfielder in January. Real Madrid and Barcelona have also been mentioned among the potential suitors for the teenager but the Austrian giants have slapped a €10million price tag on the starlet.
Demir rose through the youth ranks of Rapid Vienna and made his senior breakthrough during the 2019-20 campaign after signing a professional contract with his boyhood club.
He made only 6 league appearances last season but has established himself in a more prominent role this term, racking up 4 goals and 2 assists in 17 appearances across all competitions.
The 17-year-old impressed in the group stages of the Europa League, finding the net in a 4-3 win over Dundalk back in November. Despite his tender years, Demir has already established himself as a regular for Austria at the U-21 level. The youngster has made a total of 23 first-team appearances for Vienna in all competitions so far.
Meanwhile, Man United’s aggressive youth recruitment drive has seen them linked with plenty of up and coming prospects from far corners of the globe. Ole Gunnar Solskajer’s side have snapped up plenty of youngsters over the past 12 months to strengthen at the youth and reserve level.
Marc Jurado, Alejandro Garnacho, Charlie McNeil and Isak Hansen-Aaroen have all been roped in with one eye on the future.
Having said that, however, Man United would be better off avoiding a move for Yusuf Demir. The Austrian starlet has shown great potential in his homeland while interest from clubs like Real Madrid and Barcelona clearly underlines his talent. However, he’s not someone who United need at the moment, with so many pressing concerns to address in the first-team.
United have recently splashed the cash on two very promising young attacking prospects in the form of Pellistri and Diallo. Having said that, they should focus on their development in order to get them involved in the first-team mix moving forward. Signing another young player like Demir wouldn’t be the most sensible piece of business for the Red Devils.
With world-class players like Donny van de Beek, Juan Mata and Bruno Fernandes competing for places in the club’s creative cavalry, Demir is unlikely to get anywhere close to United’s first-team.
Man United should now focus their recruitment on some proven performers in order to challenge the likes of Liverpool and Man City in the Premier League title race. Yusuf Demir looks like a player with a bright future ahead of him but United there are plenty of other things at Old Trafford that necessitates immediate attention.