“The next Kante”: Fresh twist in United’s pursuit of 17-yo South American sensation with talks already underway – report

Manchester United are in danger of missing out on emerging Ecuadorian midfielder Ederson Castillo, with Barcelona reportedly ready to hijack the deal. The Red Devils are interested in the gifted teenager, who has caught the eye with L. D. U. Quito in recent times. The Premier League giants are now alert to emerging talents from across the globe as part of their revamped transfer strategy under INEOS. United have made several expensive transfer blunders in recent years, but have now moved away from that approach. Instead, the Red Devils have signed a host of young footballers in recent times as they focus on long-term goals. A recent report relayed by The Peoples Person states that they have their eyes on Castillo next. The next South American star Castillo rose through the ranks at L. D. U. Quito before breaking into the first team in 2024 at the age of 15. The youngster has made six appearances for the senior side so far, but has already been compared to Chelsea legend N’Golo Kante for his style of play. Ederson Castillo Stats with Senior side CompetitionPlayedGoalsAssistsYellow CardsRed CardsMinutes Played LigaPro Serie A4—1——137′ Copa Libertadores1————3′ LigaPro Serie A Segunda Etapa1————15′ Total6—1——155′ Source: Transfermarkt. Previous reports suggested that United are joined by Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid and Anderlecht in the race for the 17 year old. The Red Devils, though, are hoping to win the race for Castillo’s signature, and have already established contact with the Ecuadorian club to get a deal over the line. It has been reported that L. D. U. Quito want around €6.4 million for their prized asset, but the Premier League giants are unperturbed by the price tag. United are laying down succession plans for Casemiro, who contract expires at the end of this season. Castillo could be a long-term replacement for the Brazilian at Old Trafford. However, it now appears that they are in real danger of missing out on the teenage sensation. Barcelona step up Castillo pursuit According to journalist Michael Rosero via Sport Witness, Castillo recently travelled to Barcelona ahead of a possible move this year. The report mentions interest from United and Real Madrid, but adds that the Catalans could take the lead in the race for the youngster. Meanwhile, L. D. U. Quito president Isaac Álvarez has confirmed that the player is doing an internship at Barcelona. He said: “It’s official, we tried to keep it discreet, but Ederson went to do an internship in Barcelona.” “He will only be there for a limited time and will return afterwards. We are keeping an eye on his performance. He is part of the first team, then we will see what steps to take if the case arises [that Barca show interest].” “We want to guide him, take care of him, help him grow and ensure he develops positively because he is one of the jewels we have in our youth teams.” United will have to accelerate their efforts if they want to win the race for Castillo. However, it is important to note that the player can only move to the UK once he turns 18 in December this year. Final Thoughts United famously missed out on a bargain deal for Moises Caicedo in 2021, before he became a household name, and cannot repeat that mistake. The midfield has emerged as a weak link in the squad in recent seasons and a move for Castillo could pay dividends in a few years. Featured image Alex Livesey 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 Deepungsu Pandit Deepungsu has been a Manchester United fan since 2000. In his playing days, he was an attacking midfielder with a proclivity for the back heel. Right now, however, he prefers to operate as a regista. Deepungsu has been writing about the Red Devils, Football, and other things since 2009. He has worked for over seven years with Sportskeeda, writing football reviews, opinions and news articles. Deepungsu also maintains a blog, The Thinking Me, where he writes about life and things that interest him. His favourite Manchester United player is Paul Scholes.