Manchester United and Liverpool are reportedly in the race to sign Sheffield Wednesday’s teenage sensation.
Seventeen-year-old left-back Yisa Alao has made three appearances for the struggling club this season, catching the attention of top Premier League sides. The Daily Mail reports that both United and Liverpool are monitoring his progress, following similar interest highlighted by BBC Radio Sheffield just a week ago.
While the festive season is usually joyous, it has been grim for Wednesday. The club entered administration in October after failing to pay players and staff on time for the fifth month out of seven, leading to an 18-point deduction. This has all but confirmed their relegation to League One next season, with further penalties potentially on the horizon, as seen with Reading in recent years.
The club is now up for sale, attracting interest from investors including former Newcastle owner and Sports Direct CEO Mike Ashley. In such financial circumstances, selling key players is a crucial way for Wednesday to raise funds. Alao could be one of those departures, with a potential transfer fee around £450,000—a significant sum for the Owls, but modest for clubs like United or Liverpool.
A move to Manchester United would carry a touch of irony. Harry Amass, currently on loan at Wednesday from United, was recently described by head coach Ruben Amoirim as “struggling” in the Championship, yet he posted an Instagram story showing him holding Wednesday’s Player of the Month award for November. Alao currently serves as Amass’s understudy.
For Liverpool, the potential signing could be a long-term solution. With Andrew Robertson’s contract expiring at the end of the season, they may seek a future replacement, who would initially compete with Milos Kerkez while developing in the youth ranks.
Owls manager Henrik Pedersen praised the youngster back in September, saying: “He has had a really good development. He’s a great young player, wow. We have to be very careful with him.”
