Manchester United aims to sign another South American prodigy, a 17-year-old midfielder valued at several million! European giants are eagerly searching for a new Caicedo.

Which midfielder will Manchester United add next year—Elliott Anderson, Adam Wharton, or Carlos Baleba? There have been many rumors lately. The club’s recruitment in the youth sector has been more effective, and their new target is the Ecuadorian talent Ederson Castillo, who has now come into view.

Manchester United’s transfer plan for 2026 looks straightforward: a complete overhaul of the midfield. This will be achieved not only by signing first-team players but also by stockpiling young talents for the future. Previously, United confirmed signing 17-year-old Cristian Orosco from Fortaleza, who will officially join after turning 18 next July.

Manchester United was initially interested in Senegal’s Mohamed Dabo, who took part in trials but was ultimately not signed. It is said this decision was influenced by the presence of youth midfielder Jim Swets. Now, United has started pursuing another young South American midfielder, Castillo.

Since Sir Jim Ratcliffe acquired Manchester United, the club has been actively scouting young players. According to Ecuador’s "Bola VIP," United will face competition from Atlético Madrid and Bayern Munich, who are also interested in Castillo.

Castillo plays for Universidad Católica in Ecuador, primarily as a defensive midfielder, but he can also operate as a versatile central midfielder if needed. United’s scouts reportedly see him as a blend of Pogba and Kanté.

He is regarded as one of Ecuador’s most promising players, attracting widespread attention across Europe. He made his first-team debut for Universidad Católica at just 15 and has played six matches so far.

Following the emergence of players like Moisés Caicedo in European football, top clubs have recently been “mining” Ecuador for new talents like Caicedo. Arsenal recently confirmed signing the twin brothers Edwin and Holger Ginturo from Caicedo’s former club Independiente del Valle, while Chelsea and Bayern Munich have also signed Ecuadorian youth players.

Castillo is also considered one of Ecuador’s top young prospects, with an estimated value reaching several million pounds regardless of which club he ultimately joins. However, since Castillo just turned 17 on December 10, he can only officially join his chosen club in the January 2027 winter transfer window.

But this does not stop Manchester United from taking action. Besides Orosco, Paraguayan left-back Diego León, who has already joined the club, was also signed before turning 18 as a “lottery ticket” player with a potential transfer fee up to £7 million. Sir Jim is relentless; no matter how many attempts fail, finding one “gem” is enough.

Manchester United has ample funds to complete deals. The club’s first-quarter financial report released this Thursday shows a profit with an operating income of £13.3 million, a significant improvement from a £6.9 million loss in the same period last year, mainly due to Sir Jim’s cost-cutting measures paying off.

The detailed financial figures reveal that United’s total revenue for the quarter was £140.3 million, down 2%, mainly because of missing out on European competitions, with an EBITDA of £26.9 million. Meanwhile, due to a summer loan of £105 million to fund transfers, the club’s net debt surpassed the $1 billion (£749 million) mark for the first time.

Since the Glazer family takeover, the Red Devils have spent over £1 billion just on interest payments. However, CEO Omar Berrada stated that the club’s profitability in the first quarter reflects Manchester United’s strong resilience and recovery capability.