Manchester United are in advanced talks to sign 16-year-old AIK striking sensation Kevin Filling, a towering talent compared to Alexander Isak, for a reported £2 million fee.
Manchester United are reportedly in “concrete negotiations” to secure the signing of 16-year-old Swedish striker Kevin Filling from AIK Fotboll, according to reports citing Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg. The move aligns with the club’s renewed focus on youth recruitment under the guidance of INEOS.
Filling has rapidly become one of Scandinavia’s brightest emerging talents, becoming an “overnight sensation” after scoring a “nerveless” strike on his Allsvenskan debut for AIK.
Despite his young age, the centre-forward has already made multiple senior appearances, contributing three goals across ten outings this season.
The forward, who also has three caps for the Sweden Under-18 team, is reportedly valued at approximately €3 million (£2.6m) and could leave his current club as early as the winter transfer window.
United, who are facing competition from several Bundesliga clubs and previously from Tottenham Hotspur, have a strategy in place to circumvent post-Brexit regulations that restrict the signing of non-UK players under the age of 18.
Their plan is to agree the transfer now and “loan him to their Swiss affiliate, Lausanne, until he turns 18.”
Despite the advanced nature of the negotiations, the player himself appears focused on his current environment. Addressing the transfer speculation, Filling stated:
“I don’t think about it. I focus on where I am now. At AIK. I rub here every training session. I try not to think about it in any special way. I just look at where I am now. I am in AIK and I continue here every training.
Iwill become better as a person and as a player. That is where I am.” If the deal is finalized, the acquisition of Filling would underscore United’s commitment to “future-proofing” the squad with high-potential prospects.