United step up efforts to sign next De Bruyne, who has already rejected Man City’s offer – report

Manchester United find themselves without their captain Bruno Fernandes during the challenging festive period.  Fernandes is set for a spell on the sidelines due to a soft tissue injury. As such, Ruben Amorim could be forced to hand opportunities to youngsters like Kobbie Mainoo and Jack Fletcher in his absence.  There are also question marks over Fernandes’ long-term future at Old Trafford. United considered the possibility of parting ways with him last summer. His suitors are unlikely to go away, especially after the emergence of a release clause worth €60m. A report suggests United have entered the race to sign a new attacking midfielder, who has the potential to replace the Portuguese maestro.  Manchester United interested in Konstantinos Karetsas According to CaughtOffside, United are among the clubs closely monitoring Genk’s teenage sensation Konstantinos Karetsas, who has emerged as “one of the most coveted young playmakers in European football.” The 18-year-old has already established himself as a central figure for Genk, having registered 10 assists across all competitions this term.  It is claimed United have “stepped up their monitoring by sending scouts to Genk matches on a regular basis.” Bayern Munich, Arsenal, and Chelsea are also keen on the Belgium-born talent who represents Greek. The Blues, in particular, have already made contact with the youngster’s representatives.  United, meanwhile, want to assess his consistency and adaptability before making a concrete move.  Karetsas rejected Manchester City’s trial offer The 5ft 7in star, who features as an attacking midfielder or right-winger for Genk, is an “intelligent” player. He possesses close control, press resistance, and the ability to dictate tempo in tight spaces. The left-footed midfielder has drawn comparisons to Arsenal’s Martin Odegaard. Konstantinos Karetsas Stats: 2025/26 Season CompetitionAppearancesGoalsAssistsYellow Cards Jupiler Pro League17062 Europa League6121 Europa League Qualifying2000 Croky Cup2120 Considering Kevin De Bruyne also came through Genk’s academy, the Manchester City legend has been used as a point of reference for the technically gifted Greek as well. Last year, his father, Vaios, revealed that City invited Karetsas for a trial, but they turned down their approach. Featured image Ian MacNicol via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Vishal Singh Vishal has worked in the football media industry for over six years, planning, writing, and editing content for several major outlets, including North Star Network. Vishal has a bachelor’s degree in English Literature from Delhi University. Currently a writer at The Peoples Person, he covers Manchester United — a club he has been religiously following and supporting since 2012. Vishal also manages a leading MUFC fan page, The Red Devils, on Facebook with over a million likes. Big fan of ball-playing centre-backs and Harry Maguire’s knee-slide celebration!