Manchester United are looking to sign future stars next summer rather than chasing established names.
One name you can definitely scrub off the United wishlist, however, is Assan Ouedraogo.
18-year-old Ouedraogo was one of many hungry young talents on the radar of a club who are swapping the fading superstars of the Glazer era for future superstars under Ineos.
According to BILD, Man United made contact with Schalke last week. Ouedraogo, who is a rangy 6ft 4ins frame and technical swagger have drawn comparisons with a teenage Paul Pogba, was supposedly on. his way to Bayern Munich before the Bundesliga giants backed out.
Manchester United miss out on exciting target
That did not, however, open up the path for United to canter past the finish line.
Ouedraogo is the latest rising star to entrust his development to the esteemed football finishing school that is RB Leipzig, ending the speculation over his future by putting pen to paper on a five-year contract at the Red Bull Arena.
“By signing Assan Ouedraogo, we were able to bring an absolutely exceptional talent to RB Leipzig,” sporting director Rouven Schroder tells the Leipzig website. “Despite several offers from other top clubs in the Bundesliga and Europe, Assan has chosen us and our path.
“This shows once again that RB Leipzig is a top destination for young players with special qualities. We have been in contact with Assan for a long time, have made a lot of efforts to get him and are very happy that he is now wearing the RBL jersey.
“His skills are a perfect fit for our style of play and he can play in any position in midfield. Assan is intelligent, athletic and technically excellent. In addition, his dynamism also means he brings a lot of forward drive, so that he repeatedly initiates dangerous goalscoring situations or scores goals himself.”
Another of United’s summer targets – Benjamin Sesko – has bought into the school of thought that Red Bull does, indeed, give you wings. Sesko was reportedly the subject of a proposal from the Old Trafford outfit but joins Ouedraogo in confirming his committment to Marco Rose’s side.
Assan Ouedraogo leaves Schalke for RB Leipzig
Leipzig have reportedly paid £8 million to second-tier Schalke.
And, explaining his decision, Ouedraogo admitted that the chance to follow in the same path as Timo Werner, Dayot Upamecano, Ibrahima Konate and Dominik Szoboszlai was one he felt unable to turn down.
“I am very happy to be part of RB Leipzig from July,” the Germany youth star says. “It is of course a big step for me, but I am ready for this new challenge and look forward to everything that awaits me in Leipzig.
I am coming to a club that is one of the best clubs in the Bundesliga. (Leipzig) plays in the Champions League, has outstanding conditions and a clear philosophy. Many talented players have been able to mature into top players here in recent years and develop at the highest level.
“That is also my goal.
“Now I trust myself to take on the next exciting challenge – and the people in charge at RB Leipzig have shown me the best perspective in many good discussions. We have a lot planned together in the coming years. Now the most important thing for me is to arrive and show my performance on the pitch.”