Manchester United have now emerged as clear favourites to sign Ajax wonderkid Jorthy Mokio, a report said. The 17-year-old was earlier tracked by Liverpool and Chelsea but neither of them is active in the race for the Belgium prodigy's signature.
Manchester United are in the process of finalising a project that will ensure the young CDM minutes throughout the season "and a clear development path," one report said. Mokio, who signed a three-year contract with the club, is reportedly looking for a new base as he is uncomfortable with the uncertainties surrounding Ajax’s sporting project at the moment.
Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur are the other teams still in the race for his signature, Caught Offside said in a report.
Who is Jorthy Mokio?
If entrusted with the job of a centre-back, he becomes highly proactive, playing on the front foot and is good at breaking lines with his passes, a few scouting analysis-based reports claimed. When not playing in the middle of the park, the left-footed teenager is also effective as a left-back as well as a central defender. His technique, tactical maturity, and physical potential are the factors that make him stand apart. Reports claim Mokio can do exceptionally well in one-on-one situations and can be superior aerially. Despite the position where he is deployed, Mokio's first instinct is to carry the ball forward.
Born in Gent, Mokio signed for Ajax from KAA Gent in 2024. He has made 29 first-team appearances for the Dutch giants already. When he came off the bench against Jagiellonia Białystok in a UEFA Europa League play-off clash, history was made as he became the youngest foreign player to ever represent Ajax. He got his Eredivisie debut as a starter against Fortuna Sittard aged 16 years and 346 days.
Despite having played for the Belgian national team at U-15, U-16, U-17, U-19 and U-21 level, he can still play for DR Congo, if he wants. With the right development, he can become a dominant centre-back at the international level and Manchester United will be planning to pair him with Lenny Yoro for the years to come.
It is also noteworthy that United is also targeting 16-year-old German prodigy Kennet Eichhorn as part of building a team of promising youngsters for the years to come. Danish teenager Victor Froholdt is also being tracked by the Red Devils within a year of arriving from FC Copenhagen.