Manchester United are on the lookout for young talent and an exciting striker option is emerging on the club’s radar.
New Manchester United investors Ineos plan to focus on signing promising, talented players, and potentially loaning them to partner club Nice.
A player who is emerging onto the club’s radar is exciting young striker George Ilenikhena.
Belgian outlet Voetbal Krant report Manchester United are very on the record-setting young striker. Here is a look at everything you need to know…
George Ilenikhena background and current season
George Ilenikhena began his career with French side Amiens, making his debut in Ligue 2 at 16-years-old.
He scored two goals in just 420 minutes of game time and was snapped up by ambitious Belgian side Royal Antwerp, who played in the Champions League this season.
Still only 17, Ilenikhena has made a quick impact, scoring 14 goals in 39 games for United’s former partner club.
The highlight of his campaign was scoring his first Champions League goal in 3-2 victory over Xavi’s Barcelona.
George Ilenikhena profile
- Full name: George Osrzehmen Ilenikhena
- Age/date of birth: 17, born 16/8/2006
- Place of birth: Lagos
- Nationality: Eligible for Nigeria or France
- Position: Striker
- Club: Royal Antwerp
- Contract expires: June 2027
What has been said about George Ilenikhena
George Ilenikhena is currently being managed under former Dutch international midfielder Mark van Bommel.
Van Bommel commented on his progress this weekend after he scored, quoted by Voetbal Nieuws: “George is a natural talent. He can still improve, sometimes he still kicks too wildly, but we work with him a lot in training. He can still improve in terms of defending and being present in the game. But that is logical. George simply reaches a very high level. If you look at his age… Yes, I think he will be a very good one.”
Voetbal Krant meanwhile label Ilenikhena as a ‘golden boy’, and his impact is clear to see. Per local Antwerp outlet GvA, Ilenikhena is the third most productive substitute in European football, netting seven of his goals from the bench.
HLN describe him as the biggest sensation in Belgian football since Romelu Lukaku, while Nieuwsblad claim llhenikhena has learned by watching former Red Devils forward Edinson Cavani.
He meanwhile has spoken out on Cristiano Ronaldo being an inspiration for him, telling HLN: “I used to watch a lot of matches in the Champions League, I saw how players like Cristiano Ronaldo scored goals. Now I was there myself. That first moment after my goal… I couldn’t believe it.”
George Ilenikhena move perfect for Manchester United
The reports suggest Royal Antwerp will struggle to resist an offer for George Ilenikhena, who they paid around just £4.5 million
This is exactly the type of transfer deal Manchester United should be looking to do, snapping up an emerging young talent who is also proving he is capable of contributing at a first team level.
Ilenikhena’s ability to score from the bench is also useful, as he won’t be a regular starter at Manchester United, playing back-up to Rasmus Hojlund.
United won’t be able to bring him in until he turns 18 in August, but there could be a workaround, if Ineos sign him for Nice, with a plan to sell him on to the Red Devils.
Another option for United is to sign him, and then loan him out to Nice for a year. One way or another, this is a very tempting deal for United to do, and would sum up the new chosen direction under Ineos.
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