Manchester United interested in 15-year-old Ecuador whizkid Kendry Paez

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Manchester United are interested in signing 15-year-old wonderkid Kendry Paez from Ecuador side Independiente Del Valle, reports Ole.

The Red Devils reportedly ‘made an offer’ to sign the youngster a couple of months ago, but the South American side turned down United’s enquiry.

The report from Ole states that Independiente Del Valle know that they have a ‘jewel’ within their ranks and several top clubs alongside United are monitoring the midfielder’s progress.

Such is Paez’s talent, the teenager has been called up to Independiente’s first team and will form part of the senior side for the 2023 campaign, but they are going to carefully manage his development.

Manchester United interested in 15-year-old Ecuador whizkid Kendry Paez

Paez would not be able to move to European football until he turns 18, so any potential transfer would follow in the same footsteps of how Real Madrid signed Brazilian sensation Endrick.

It remains to be seen whether Erik ten Hag’s Reds plan on submitting a new offer for Paez.

But United have already missed out on a talented midfield prospect that came through the Independiente Del Valle ranks.

The twenty-time league champions missed out on signing Moises Caicedo for £4.5m back in January 2021.

While the Busby Babes were unsure whether Caicedo was worthy of the slender fee, Brighton & Hove Albion capitalised on United’s hesitancy and signed the Ecuador international, which has proven to be one of the shrewdest pieces of business the Seagulls have carried out.

The Sun reported earlier this month that it would take a bid of around £70m to prise Caicedo away from the Amex Stadium.

Jude Bellingham and Frenkie de Jong seemingly remain Ten Hag’s main midfield targets, but United have to learn lessons from our Caicedo mishap.

Instead of being reactive in the transfer market and signing Paez once he’s already moved to Europe, and is no longer an unknown quantity, the club’s scouting team need to finding gems for Ten Hag to develop.