Why Watford should sign Swedish youth prospect Kevin Harletun

According to The Sun, Watford have been credited with an interest in Sweden U-19 striker Kevin Harletun, with the report claiming that the Hornets are keen to add some more exciting talent to their youth ranks.

Watford, though, are not the only English club to have registered an interest in the 19-year-old centre-forward. Harletun, who was granted permission to have a trial at Hull City a few weeks back, has impressed Tigers’ boss Grant McCann and the Hornets are likely to face stiff competition for his services. (h/t Sun)

The 19-year-old, who is yet to make the transition from the academy ranks to the senior team at Malmo, is in the final year of his contract and the youngster’s imminent availability on a free transfer has apparently put the likes of Watford and Hull City on red alert.

Malmo, however, would be entitled to a paltry compensation fee of around £140,000 for the time that they have spent to develop the teenager in their youth ranks, The Sun understands.

Well, not much is known about Kevin Harletun but the talented teenager is held in high regard by the youth coaches in his homeland and has already been tipped by many to go on and play at the highest level in the years to come.

The 19-year-old has featured regularly for Malmo’s U-18 and U-19 sides over the past couple of years and his talent and potential haven’t gone unnoticed. To add to that, Harletun made his international debut for Sweden at the U-18 level back in 2017 before progressing through to the U-19s last year.

To put things into perspective, Kevin Harletun is not quite amongst the hottest emerging prospects in Europe but he looks like a real talent, nevertheless, and Watford should snap him up as one for the future.

Given his availability on a free transfer with a small compensation fee, the 19-year-old would hardly be a gamble for Watford but they might reap rich rewards in the years to come if Harletun goes on to fulfil his promise at Vicarage Road.

Watford are eyeing a move to pinch Kevin Harletun from under the noses of Hull

Looking at things from the player’s perspective, Harletun’s chances of making a first-team breakthrough at Hull City would be better but Watford could also be an ideal destination for him if the Hornets are prepared to offer assurances over a pathway to the senior ranks in the future.

Aiming to reach greater heights in the Premier League under the ambitious ownership of Gino Pozzo, Watford have shown the urgency to pluck out some quality young talents from across the globe in recent years.

They made a massive statement of intent with a club-record deal for 21-year-old winger Ismaila Sarr this summer, while exciting prospects like Sam Dalby and Tom-Dele Bashiru also joined the club’s development side from Leeds United and Man City respectively.

Cucho Hernandez, Filip Stuparevic and Ben Wilmot are some other talented starlets currently in the club’s loan army and snapping up another quality talent like Kevin Harletun would definitely make a lot of sense.

With that in mind, Watford should leave no stone unturned in their pursuit of the Swedish prodigy, as it might be a move that proves handy in the longer run.