Six young talents Barcelona are closely monitoring including Manchester United gem

Six young talents Barcelona are closely monitoring including Manchester United gem FC Barcelona have made it a point to identify the next generation of football stars before their rivals. The strategy developed by Deco and Joao Amaral, the club’s head of scouting, involves looking beyond La Masia to find talented players while they are still taking their first steps in professional football. The aim is to sign them early, support their development and avoid paying inflated fees once they have established themselves among the elite. The recent signings of Hamza Abdelkarim and Jesse Bisiwu are a few examples of this policy. Six other young talents are also attracting attention as Barcelona continue to monitor the international market. JJ Gabriel At just 16, JJ Gabriel is already at the centre of a battle involving some of the world’s biggest clubs. The youngster has declined to sign his first professional contract with Manchester United, prompting interest from Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and PSG. Gabriel’s camp would reportedly welcome a move to Spain, but the player has yet to choose between Barcelona and Real Madrid. However, securing his signature will not be straightforward. The financial demands of his representatives could take the overall cost of the deal, including wages, commissions and compensation, to at least €10 million . Josh King Barcelona are tracking Josh King. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images) Josh King, at 19, has become a first-team regular for Fulham. His performances at the start of the season under Alvaro Arbeloa, including two goals in his first five appearances and more than 400 minutes of playing time, have underlined his potential. Apart from Barcelona, his progress has also attracted interest from Chelsea, Liverpool , Manchester United, Borussia Dortmund and Atletico Madrid. King remains under contract with the Cottagers until 2029. The London club have no intention of making his departure easy. Gabriel Rajkovic One of the most striking emerging talents in Europe, Gabriel Rajkovic has already made several appearances for the first team of for Norwegian club Valerenga despite being only 15 years old forward. Barcelona have been tracking his progress , with scouts watching him in person during a match against Bodo/Glimt. Rajkovic made history in that game by becoming the youngest goalscorer in the history of Norway’s top flight, aged just 15 years, five months and 15 days. His early achievements have also attracted attention from major Premier League clubs, including Arsenal Manchester United . With such a significant milestone already behind him, the young forward is emerging as a prospect attracting interest well beyond Norway. Arthur Dias Barcelona rate Arthur Dias very highly. (Photo by Heuler Andrey/Getty Images) Arthur Dias, 19, is one of the defenders most highly rated by Barcelona’s scouts. The left-footed defender captained Brazil at the 2025 South American Under-20 Championship, which the Brazilian team won. His development has also earned him a call-up to Brazil’s senior squad under Carlo Ancelotti. Amaral has followed Dias closely and even confirmed in a recent interview that the Blaugrana like the 19-year-old’s profile. His combination of physical attributes and technical ability makes him a player to watch as the club assess potential defensive reinforcements. Eduardo Conceicao Another Brazilian talent on the list, the 16-year-old Palmeiras attacker has caught Barcelona’s attention for some time now. His performances at youth level and his versatility, allowing him to play as a left winger, attacking midfielder or forward, prompted Deco to explore the possibility of bringing him to the club. Barcelona held discussions with the player’s representatives, but competition from English clubs and the substantial financial demands made the deal difficult to complete. The Catalans eventually withdrew from the bidding, but they continue to monitor his situation closely . Cavan Sullivan The final name on Barcelona’s list is Cavan Sullivan, the attacking midfielder at Philadelphia Union who has broken records with the United States senior men’s national team. Cavan Sullivan is making history in the US. (Picture credit: Instagram/@cavan.sull) At 17, Sullivan became the youngest goalscorer in the history of the USMNT during the latest international break, further strengthening his reputation as one of the most promising young players in the country. His performances in Major League Soccer have also demonstrated his attacking potential, with seven goals and 12 assists this season. Barcelona have been linked with the midfielder , who has already attracted interest from other major European clubs. However, there is a significant obstacle to any potential move as Manchester City reached an agreement with Philadelphia Union in 2024 to sign Sullivan when he turns 18 on 28 September 2027. Despite the complication, Barcelona continue to follow his development closely.