United face Real Madrid competition for 19-yo midfield jewel who never stops running – report

Manchester United have identified their next target in young Porto midfielder Victor Froholdt. The Red Devils have revamped their transfer strategy of late and are now looking to secure emerging talents with a very high potential. The Premier League giants are trying to restore their edge under INEOS after several false starts over the years. Once the pride of England, United have struggled to maintain their high standards since Sir Alex stepped down from the helm in 2013. In the years that followed, the Red Devils enjoyed sporadic success, but failed to win the league. The Champions League has also remained out of reach, although they have reached three Europa League finals, winning one. Long-term plans unfolding at Old Trafford There have been signs of a revival this season, following a meticulously planned summer of reinforcements. The attack has already shown promise after being bolstered with Premier League-proven stars Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha. The midfield, however, appears to be a weak link in the team, with Ruben Amorim’s desire to control games still an unfulfilled ambition. With Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro already on the wrong side of 30, and Kobbie Mainoo’s future uncertain, the Red Devils must invest with a view to the future. The Peoples Person recently relayed a report stating that the Premier League giants have identified Froholdt as an option for the job. The highly rated Danish midfielder has been in fine form for Porto this season, contributing to four goals. His impressive running capability has previously been described as ‘second to none’. Victor Froholdt Stats: 2025/26 Season CompetitionAppsGoalsAssistsYellow CardsRed CardsMinutes Liga Portugal11221–958′ UEFA Europa League4––1–247′ Superliga1––––90′ Taça de Portugal1––––74′ Total17222–1,369′ Source: TransfermarktThe 19 year old fits the profile of player United are looking for, although he has an €85 million release clause in his contract. However, it now appears that the Red Devils will face stiff competition in the race for his signature. Real want Froholdt According to a report from Fichajes, Real Madrid have set their sights on Froholdt. The LaLiga giants have already prepared a detailed scouting report on the teenager, as have United and Atletico Madrid. Los Blancos are yet to sign replacements for Toni Kroos, who retired in 2024, and Luka Modric, who left the Santiago Bernabeu this summer to join AC Milan. Real Madrid are impressed by Froholdt’s maturity at such a young age, his passing ability and his physique, and believe he could be a game changer for the club. The Spanish giants have some of the world’s best young footballers at their disposal, and are ready to add the Dane to their collection. An offer, as such, cannot be ruled out, although it is likely to be below the player’s release clause. The developments are not ideal for United, who now face a battle to secure the signature of the youngster. Meanwhile, Froholdt is under contract until 2030, and Porto are reportedly adamant that they will only let him leave if his release clause is met. Final Thoughts Signing an emerging talent with immense potential is never an easy task, so the intense competition for Froholdt comes as no surprise. Real Madrid’s entry into the race is likely to complicate matters for United, with the Santiago Bernabeu always an enticing destination for any young player. However, United beat Los Blancos to the signature of the highly rated Leny Yoro as recently as last year. As such, it would be unwise to rule the Red Devils out of the race. If Amorim’s team show purpose on the pitch and continue their upward trajectory, it would certainly help convince Froholdt to move to the Theatre of Dreams. Featured image Adam Pretty 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.