The agent of KV Mechelen youngster Aster Vranckx has warned Manchester City they will not be signing his client, not for another three or four years at least.
Vranckx has emerged as one of the hottest properties in Belgian football over the last year, with a series of impressive performances that have belied his age.
That has naturally put him on the radar of several top teams, who are all believed to be keeping an eye on his development.
Manchester City have regularly been named as suitors, with Mechelen assistant coach Tom Caluwé confirming last year that they had scouted him.
The interest is unlikely to go away, despite Vranckx’s recent horror miss that saw him go viral across social media, particularly as he turns 18 this year.
His agent, though, has pretty much rubbished the links, although he does admit that there’s been plenty of phone calls.
“Of course, we have received a lot of telephone calls for the next few months,” Peter Verplancke told Het Nieuwsblad.
“Even by those top European clubs. Several of them have contacted us. What is more, we have let them know that Aster will not go to one of those top European clubs anyway.
“That will not be until about four years from now. After all, we want to avoid him becoming a plaything and being rented out for the next three years.
“Either Aster stays with Kaboré, leaves for abroad – but not Man City or any other top European club – and is immediately rented out to KV, or he leaves permanently for abroad.
“One thing is certain: if Vranckx – under contract until 2022 – ever leaves, KV wants to break their transfer record.”
