Manchester United had a heavy presence at the U17 World Cup, and one player had a tournament which should convince Christopher Vivell.
The U17 World Cup is at its quarter-final stage, and plenty of teams Manchester United were watching have departed already.
Michael Noonan and the Republic of Ireland crashed out to Switzerland, while Argentina’s Felipe Esquivel is also gone from the tournament after Mexico knocked them out.
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There is another wonderkid involved in the tournament who quietly had a brilliant tournament and now a bidding war is impending.
Seydou Dembele in action for Mali.
Photo by Chris Ricco – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
Bidding war soon expected for Manchester United target Seydou Dembele
United signed Sekou Kone based on his U17 World Cup quality, which shows that the club take this tournament very seriously. They will be doing so again for the 2025 version, with Seydou Dembele a top target.
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Despite Mali being knocked out by Morocco, Dembele still had a top-class tournament, and now the Daily Mail has reported that there is a lot of interest in the 17-year-old.
The JMG Academy talent is the ‘talk of scouts’ at the tournament, and his performances have seen him considered arguably the brightest prospect at the tournament.
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United will have to battle Chelsea for his signature, as scouts have been keeping a very close eye on the 5ft 5in attacking midfielder.
The report then adds that a bidding war is imminent for the super-talented teenager, and from the sounds of it, United will be right up there.
United scouts have been keen on Dembele since last season’s U17 AFCON, and as he turns 18 in the new year, his next move seems set to be decided by next summer.
Seydou Dembele had a top-class U17 World Cup for Mali
This is not an impulse thing; United have had interest in Dembele since last year. Now the 17-year-old has put in a tournament that will have impressed head of recruitment Christopher Vivell and the scouts in attendance.
🇲🇱 Seydou Dembele ⚽️
Mali U17 World Cup 2025 Stats
Opponent Goals Assists
New Zealand(Won 3-0) 1 1
Austria(Lost 0-3) 0 0
Saudi Arabia(Won 2-0) 0 1
Zambia(Won 3-1) 1 1
Morocco(Lost 2-3) 0 1
TOTAL 2 4
Two goals and four assists in five games at the competition are very impressive, considering Mali weren’t the same super team they were in 2023.
Dembele really impressed during the tournament, and if United scouts weren’t there to watch him, they certainly would have had their attention directed to his performances over the course of the five games he played.
Signing Dembele would be yet another future midfielder signed for his potential, and Ineos can be sure that at least one of the wonderkids signed from across the world would come good.
Such creativity from the midfield will make Dembele a sought-after player, and United should be heading that queue.