While big-name signings are often the order of the day at Manchester City, there has also been a real push to sign young talent in recent years.
City are a club looking to develop youth from within, and that has often seen them hoovering up talent around Europe for their youth ranks and loaning them out to develop.
It’s a strategy they’re sticking with, and the latest who could be scooped up into the Etihad vacuum is Norwegian talent Håkon Evjen according to Het Laatste Nieuws.
The newspaper says the 19-year-old is on City’s radar after hitting six goals in fourteen games this season. However, they are facing stern competition for his signature from Vincent Kompany and his new club Anderlecht.
The Belgian side are keen on the youngster, and technical director Frank Arnesen has launched a ‘charm offensive’ to secure his signature. Arnesen recently flew out to watch the player in action while Evjen has also visited Belgium and has spoken to Kompany.
They view the 19-year-old as one a potential star for the future and would like to secure him now while he’s affordable. The problem is that City, as well as Ajax, are ‘lurking’ in the background and it remains ‘unclear’ whether Anderlecht can get a deal done for him.
Manchester City would likely be the glamorous option for him, although Ajax’s record of developing young talent would also be a draw.
Given the English window is now closed, City can’t move anyway, although they may look to get a deal done and immediately loan him out to a partner club like Girona, which is something they’ve done with other youngsters.
Alternatively, a club within the City group, namely Girona, could sign him to ensure that City have a simple deal in future should he progress as they seem to think he might.
