Man City, Manchester United and Newcastle chase ‘next Jude Bellingham’ in epic transfer tug-of-war

Manchester City have joined the race to sign Schalke wonderkid Assan Ouedraogo, according to reports.

Newcastle United are understood to have been keeping tabs on the midfielder throughout his impressive breakout season. Ouedraogo - who joined the German club aged eight - only made his professional debut this season.

He marked the occasion with a goal and has only enhanced his reputation despite Schalke’s woes. Just over a decade on from a Champions League semi-final defeat to Manchester United, Die Knappen are languishing in the second division and €180million in debt.

Schalke were crippled by the Covid-19 pandemic and publicly announced they were close to bankruptcy. There were fears about dropping into the third division before a recent upturn in form.

Uncertainty around the club could present an opportunity for Newcastle to plunder one of their prized assets. Ouedraogo, contracted until 2027, is a German under-17 international and has been likened to England prodigy Jude Bellingham. 

Schalke manager Karel Geraerts played down rumours linking the “outstanding” talent with a move away. He said: “Assan is an outstanding player and a big talent, that’s certain. There are many rumours surrounding his name, and the clubs he is being linked to, but that is normal in football.

“As a coach, it is most important for me to have good conversations with him to ensure that he feels comfortable, and to guide him on his journey. We can’t forget that he is still very young. But right now, everything is going very well for him.”

Fussball News claim Man City have joined Newcastle in the race for a youngster who could be worth up to €50million next season. Manchester United are also named as a potential Premier League destination.