Manchester United Lead Pursuit of Ajax's Jorthy Mokio Amidst Scouting Blitz for Emerging Talent

Manchester, England – Manchester United are reportedly intensifying their scouting efforts across Europe, with Ajax’s highly-rated 17-year-old talent, Jorthy Mokio, emerging as a primary target. The Premier League club faces competition from Newcastle United and Eintracht Frankfurt for the versatile defensive midfielder, whose contract negotiations with the Dutch giants have reportedly stalled. The Red Devils’ extensive talent identification also extends to France, where Rennes duo Jérémy Jacquet and Mohamed Meïté have caught the attention of Old Trafford scouts ahead of the upcoming transfer window.

The interest in Mokio underscores Manchester United’s strategic shift towards securing young, high-potential players capable of developing into first-team regulars. Mokio, who signed a contract with Ajax until 2027, is understood to be seeking the next significant step in his burgeoning career. His profile as a defensive midfielder, capable of operating as a centre-back or left-back, makes him a highly attractive prospect for clubs seeking defensive versatility and depth. The 17-year-old made his senior debut for the Belgian national team in March, a testament to his rapid development and high ceiling. According to Sacha Tavolieri of Sky Sports Switzerland, the Red Devils are closely monitoring his situation, with the player’s contractual standoff at Ajax potentially opening the door for a winter or summer move.

Concurrently, Manchester United’s scouting network has been actively assessing talent in France’s Ligue 2. A club scout was reportedly present at Rennes’ 1-0 victory over Paris FC on November 7, specifically to observe defender Jérémy Jacquet and striker Mohamed Meïté. Jacquet, a 20-year-old centre-back, has been a cornerstone of the Rennes defence this season, playing every minute of their league campaign. His consistent performances have not gone unnoticed, with Arsenal and Crystal Palace having previously shown strong interest in the defender last summer before he committed his future to Rennes until 2029.

Mohamed Meïté, an 18-year-old striker, is regarded as a promising youth prospect within the Rennes academy system. While Jacquet represents a more immediate first-team option, Meïté’s potential for future development aligns with United’s long-term recruitment strategy.

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ESPN’s resident scout, Tor-Kristian Karlsen, provided an in-depth assessment of the Rennes duo, highlighting their key attributes. Karlsen noted Jacquet’s remarkable maturity for his age: "In only his first full year of his top-flight career, Jacquet has emerged as one of the most promising young centre-backs in France. What makes him stand out at this early stage is how complete he already looks." Karlsen elaborated on Jacquet’s defensive acumen, praising his game-reading and composure on the ball, citing "seven progressive passes per 90 minutes this season." He added, "He rarely overcommits, preferring to wait out the attacker and win the ball cleanly, either through an interception or controlled sliding challenge… which has become a signature feature of his game." Despite his 6-foot-2 frame, Jacquet’s mobility and aerial prowess are significant assets, with a "74% aerial win rate, the best in Ligue 1 among centre-backs with more than 1,000 league minutes this season."

Regarding Meïté, Karlsen described him as a developing No. 9 prospect: "At 6-foot-4, the 18-year-old offers the classic physical profile of a target man and has won 75% of his duels off the ground this season, but he also has more mobility and finesse – flicks, good touch, clever lay-offs – than his size may suggest." Meïté’s progression from the reserves to the senior squad last season, where he scored two goals in 12 league games, demonstrates his potential. This season, he has amassed nearly 600 senior minutes, contributing to goals and maintaining a high-volume shooting rate of "3.4 shots per 90." Karlsen concluded, "The France U21 international’s defining feature is arguably his penalty-box presence. He attacks crosses with confidence, uses his body intelligently to fend off opponents, and is able to find space to run on either side of the centre-backs. The fact he has already started high-profile games ahead of more established forwards reflects how highly Rennes rate him."

The Red Devils’ interest in these young talents aligns with a broader trend in the transfer market, where clubs are increasingly looking to secure prospects before their values escalate significantly. Manchester United currently sit seventh in the Premier League table after 12 matches, with a defensive record that has seen them concede 18 goals. Their attacking output, with 16 goals scored, also suggests a need for reinforcements across the squad. The upcoming January transfer window represents a crucial opportunity for manager Erik ten Hag to bolster his ranks for the second half of the season.

In other significant transfer developments across European football:

Ivan Toney’s Premier League Return Ambitions
Al Ahli striker Ivan Toney, 29, is reportedly considering a substantial 50% salary reduction to facilitate a return to the Premier League. This move is believed to be motivated by his desire to enhance his prospects of representing England at the next World Cup. Since his £40 million transfer from Brentford to Saudi Arabia in 2024, Toney has maintained a prolific scoring record, netting 11 goals in 15 appearances this season and a total of 41 goals in 59 games. Tottenham Hotspur remain the favourites to secure his services, although Everton are also understood to be monitoring the situation, according to TEAMtalk.

Liverpool’s Pursuit of Marc Guéhi
Crystal Palace reportedly believes that Liverpool is the sole club actively pursuing centre-back Marc Guéhi in the January transfer window. Guéhi’s contract is set to expire at the end of the current season, allowing him to sign a pre-contract agreement with clubs outside England from January 1. While Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, and Barcelona have been linked with the England international, Liverpool are anticipated to make the initial approach. This urgency from the Merseyside club stems from a long-term injury to Giovanni Leoni and ongoing uncertainty surrounding the future of Ibrahima Konaté, as reported by Sky Sports.

Fiorentina Targets Chelsea Defenders
Fiorentina have identified Chelsea’s 19-year-old defender Josh Acheampong as their primary target for the January window. Acheampong, despite having featured in Chelsea’s first team, is reportedly open to a move away from Stamford Bridge. The Serie A club is exploring a loan deal with an option for a permanent transfer. Should a deal for Acheampong not materialise, Fiorentina’s attention could turn to 27-year-old Chelsea centre-back Axel Disasi, who has reportedly been frozen out of the first-team squad, according to Tuttomercatoweb.

Additional Transfer Rumours:

Ayyoub Bouaddi (Lille): Paris Saint-Germain are reportedly vying with Manchester United, Arsenal, and Real Madrid for the signature of Lille’s 18-year-old midfielder, with a fee of approximately €45 million being mooted (Ekrem Konur).
Angelo Stiller (VfB Stuttgart): The defensive midfielder reportedly favours a move to Real Madrid over Manchester United (Defensa Central).
Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal): The young midfielder could seek a loan move in January to gain more playing time (Daily Mail).
Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Barcelona): The 33-year-old Barcelona goalkeeper is linked with a potential loan move to Besiktas in January, with an option for a permanent transfer (Sport).
Alejandro Grimaldo (Bayer Leverkusen): Bayern Munich and Barcelona are exploring a move for the 30-year-old left-back, who reportedly prefers a return to Spain, a preference that suits Leverkusen (Marca).
Filip Jorgensen (Chelsea): The Chelsea goalkeeper, who joined 18 months ago, could depart in January in search of more regular game time (TalkSPORT).
Morten Frendrup (Genoa): Inter Milan and Napoli are reportedly in a battle to sign the 24-year-old midfielder, with Inter viewing him as a more attainable target than Roma’s Manu Kone (Gazzetta dello Sport).
Thomas Kristensen (Udinese): AC Milan are targeting the 23-year-old Udinese centre-back for €20 million if their pursuit of 41-year-old Thiago Silva from Fluminense proves unsuccessful (Gazzetta dello Sport).
Tiago Gabriel (Lecce): Juventus have initiated contact with Lecce for the young Portuguese defender, potentially offering a loan player to fend off interest from Brentford, who are reportedly preparing a €20 million bid (Tuttosport).
Rodrigo Mendoza (Elche): The Spain U20 midfielder is attracting interest from Arsenal, Real Madrid, Valencia, and Como (Informacion).
Dominik Livakovic (Girona): Real Betis, Dinamo Zagreb, Mainz, and Bologna are monitoring the Girona goalkeeper’s situation as he seeks more minutes to secure his position as Croatia’s No.1 for the 2026 World Cup (Ekrem Konur).
Vicente Guaita (Free Agent): The Spanish goalkeeper is reportedly close to signing a one-year deal with Parma, providing cover after an injury to Zion Suzuki (Fabrizio Romano).
Mathys Tel (Tottenham Hotspur): Roma are considering a move for the Tottenham Hotspur forward, who is reportedly unsettled in London following his transfer from Bayern Munich. Roma are also tracking Marseille midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (Gazzetta dello Sport).

The forthcoming transfer window is anticipated to be a busy period for clubs across Europe as they seek to strengthen their squads and address tactical needs.