Why Man United should move for Polish prodigy Kacper Kozlowski
According to claims from Fox Sports Asia, Man United have been credited with an interest in Polish prodigy Kacper Kozlowski, who currently plies his trade in his homeland with Pogon Szczecin.
Kozlowski, who is highly-rated by several top clubs in Europe, most notably from England, Germany, Italy and France, recently made his senior professional debut for Pogon Szczecin in the Polish Ekstraklasa at the age of 15. (h/t Fox Sports Asia)
The same report goes on to add that Man United sent their scouts to monitor the teenage sensation closely while he was playing for Poland U-17s against England and Kozlowski impressed the Old Trafford scouting team by finding the net in a tense encounter that finished 2-2, with England U-17 winning on penalties.
A right-footed central midfielder capable of adapting seamlessly to attacking and defensive roles in the middle of the park, Kacper Kozlowski rose through the youth ranks of Pogon Szczecin and spent large quarters of the previous campaign with the club’s reserve side in the Polish fourth-tier before making the transition to the senior ranks.
The 15-year-old has only made three first-team appearances for the current pace-setters in the Ekstraklasa, the top-tier of Polish football, but that has apparently been enough to put some of the top clubs in Europe on red alert.
Kozlowski is regarded as a player with serious potential and with Man United currently putting a lot of emphasis on youth development under the stewardship of Ole Gunnar Solskajer, the Red Devils’ interest in the talented Polish starlet hardly comes as a big surprise.
That he has already made the transition to the senior professional level at the age of 15 is indicative of a level of maturity that belies his tender years. He might have only managed to do so in the Polish top-flight, which is not really up there with the top leagues in Europe, but it would be unfair to undermine Kozlowski’s obvious talent and vast potential.
To put things into perspective, it should be a no-brainer for Man United to complete a move for Kacper Kozlowski as one for the future and the Red Devils need to firm up their interest at the earliest if they are really serious about bringing him to the club, given that so many top clubs are keeping tabs on his progress.
Agreed, United need to spend millions to bolster their senior team, which looks in tatters at the moment after a poor start to the Premier League this term, but bringing in a promising youngster is never a bad idea.
In all probability, Kozlowski would only link up with the club’s U-18 side even if a move does materialize in January or next summer and then it will be up to him to progress through the ranks up to the U-23 development side.
The Pole is still very much in his formative years as a professional footballer and, while there are hardly any guarantees over how the development of a 15-year-old would pan out in the next few years, United should back themselves to polish him into a top-quality player in the future.
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Nevertheless, his professional breakthrough at the age of 15 is enough to suggest that he is a really special talent and United could have a gem on their hands in the future if Kozlowski goes on to fulfil his promise at Old Trafford.
With that in mind, United completing a swoop for the Polish prodigy would be a step in the right direction and one that is likely to underpin their ambitions moving forward.