Newcastle United & Chelsea eye swoop for 'Swedish Messi' - is already known to Man Utd

Newcastle United and Brighton and Hove Albion have been credited with an interest in FC Copenhagen wonderkid Roony Bardghji.

French news outlet Jeunes Footeux have claimed both the Magpies and Seagulls dispatched scouts to watch the talented youngster in action during his side’s 4-3 midweek win against Manchester United— but they were far from the only clubs represented in the stands at the Parken Stadium.

Chelsea, Ajax and Bundesliga rivals Eintracht Frankfurt and RB Leipzig were also said to be in the stands as the youngster put on quite the show against the 13-time Premier League champions.

Bardghji, who will turn 18 next week, came off the bench to snatch a late goal that gave his side a dramatic 4-3 win over Erik ten Hag’s side and further enhance a reputation that has already seen him labelled as ‘the Swedish Messi’.

The Kuwait-born midfielder has already made 65 first-team appearances in all competitions for the Danish club and his latest goal took his senior career total to 15. There has been a significant increase in the level of his interest in his services during the current campaign after he made a fine start to the season with ten goals in 23 appearances.

The youngster has been widely tipped for a first call-up to the Sweden senior setup but was absent when manager Janne Andersson announced his squad for upcoming Euro 2024 qualifiers just hours before Bardghji enjoyed his landmark moment against the Red Devils.

When asked about his non-selection, the young midfielder told TNT Sports: "Of course I'm unhappy that I haven't been selected, really. It's actually crazy that I'm not there. But I'm not complaining, taking it as it comes. But it's sick, really. I think I deserve it. You get a little angry, because you're just waiting for a call from the A national team.”

Despite his inability to break into the Sweden squad, Bardghji remains of interest to several clubs around Europe - and the Jeunes Footeux report reveals he will ‘certainly be solicited’ during the winter transfer window.