- Manchester United eye up Bosnian star
- Currently playing for RB Leipzig
- Returning to Bayer Leverkusen next season
Manchester United have reportedly entered the race for 18-year-old Bosnian star Kerim Alajbegovic, who currently plays for RB Salzburg in Austria.
In just his first season of first-team football, Alajbegovic has impressed, playing 37 times in all competitions whilst also scoring 11 goals. On the national side, he has already become a first-team regular.
In the World Cup playoffs, the Bosnian winger came on against Wales before assisting Schalke striker Edin Dzeko for a crucial late equaliser in the 86th minute, before scoring the last penalty in a 4-2 shootout win to set up a clash against four-time World Cup champions Italy.
In the play-off final, Alajbegovic would once again score in the shootout as his country went on to win 4-1 to qualify for their first World Cup since 2014. United are now just one of the many suitors for the young Bosnian.
Alajbegovic Headed Back to Bayer Leverkusen
While the Bosnian winger is currently plying his trade in Austria, his former youth side, Bayer Leverkusen, have already triggered his €8million (roughly £7m) to ensure he returns to the Bundesliga outfit.
But with Alajbegovic’s market value only continuing to rise thanks to his fantastic performances both domestically and internationally, Leverkusen may take the chance to sell him to another foreign club for a quick turnaround sale.
According to Bosnian sports outlet Eprezentacija, Leverkusen plan to sell him immediately and make a profit. Whether he is aware of these plans is uncertain.
The exciting winger said (via Bundesliga):
“For me, it’s a step up to another level. I know the club, and Leverkusen have the highest standards. They’re a top-16 club in Europe that always competes at the top of the Bundesliga. Many young players have already made it here. I also have that goal.”
Leverkusen’s club managing director for sport, Simon Rolfes, said Alajbegovic, “has not only fulfilled the high expectations placed in him in Salzburg, he has even exceeded them in a very short space of time. We are sure Kerim can also play an important role at Leverkusen in the coming years.”
Rolfes was one of the key staff members in developing the Bosnian whilst he was at the club. It seems his future might lie at one of Europe’s top clubs.
Could Alajbegovic be United-bound?
Whilst there is a chance that Leverkusen could be signing Alajbegovic for a quick payday, it is unlikely they will offload the Bosnian.
A host of European sides are interested in him, including fellow Premier League outfits Chelsea and Manchester City, whilst AC Milan are looking to sign him and fellow Bosnian star Esmir Bajraktarevic.
It seems fairly unlikely at this moment in time that United will get their hands on the first Bosnian player to play for the club.
