Manchester United are among several European giants tracking Kennet Eichhorn, the Hertha Berlin prodigy already being labelled “the next Toni Kroos” in Germany.
The 16-year-old defensive midfielder has broken into Hertha’s first team this season, making 10 appearances in Bundesliga 2 after debuting against Karlsruhe in August. His rapid rise has drawn widespread attention across the Premier League.
Scouts from United, Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal have all watched him in action, with interest accelerating as he continues to impress.
According to Mail Online, Eichhorn has a £10 million release clause that becomes active in the summer — a figure that has alerted not just English clubs, but several of Europe’s elite.
Bayern Munich hope to keep the highly rated youngster in Germany, but they face major competition. Real Madrid, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain have also reportedly sent scouts to assess the midfielder.
Eichhorn signed his first professional contract earlier this year and became the youngest debutant in Bundesliga 2 history for Hertha, at 16 years and 14 days. His performances since then have only elevated the hype.
Hertha boss Stefan Leitl showered him with praise following his first league start:
“Sixteen years old, playing in front of 50,000 fans against a top side – for me, he was by far the best player on the pitch.”
United make decision on Harry Amass loan
United have also finalised their stance on another teenage talent. Harry Amass, currently on loan at Sheffield Wednesday, will be allowed to remain with the Owls beyond January.
The 17-year-old left-back has enjoyed an outstanding first spell in senior football, not missing a single minute in Wednesday’s last 10 Championship fixtures. United, who signed Amass from Watford in 2023, believe continuing his development in a competitive environment is the best course of action.
Amorim weighing up January decisions amid AFCON headache
Meanwhile, manager Ruben Amorim addressed potential January activity, acknowledging the squad challenges posed by the Africa Cup of Nations.
“Of course we are going to have a problem there with AFCON. But we already knew,” he said.
“You can prepare in the summer, but then you end up with players who don’t play because it’s one game per week. Managing that situation is going to be hard.
Let’s see when the window opens if we can improve the team.”
Man Utd monitoring Hertha Berlin sensation Kennet Eichhorn – the 16-year-old dubbed “the next Toni Kroos”
