Report: Barcelona and Manchester City need €15 million to sign Niko Ilicevic
Barcelona and Manchester City may need to pay €15 million to sign Niko Ilicevic, the 16-year-old attacking midfielder at Eintracht Frankfurt, according to a report. Several European clubs are monitoring his progress, the report said.
A report says Barcelona and Manchester City may need to pay €15 million to sign Niko Ilicevic, the 16-year-old attacking midfielder at Eintracht Frankfurt. The report said several European clubs are monitoring his progress.
According to the report, Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Inter Milan and AC Milan have sent representatives to watch the player. Ilicevic joined Frankfurt’s academy in 2018 and currently plays for the second team; he has also scored or assisted seven goals in seven matches for the under-19 team this season and has appeared in two Bundesliga matches.
Ilicevic usually plays as a playmaker and can also operate out wide, according to the source. The report said Frankfurt had contacted his representatives about extending his contract, which runs until he turns 18, and that the player and his family are open to new terms if they include a clause allowing major European clubs to sign him.
The report added that Barcelona had moved away from the race to sign young prospect JJ Gabriel, who is expected to join Real Madrid, while Manchester City are looking to strengthen their youth ranks. The report estimated that €15 million could be enough to take Ilicevic from Germany.