Manchester United have been linked with a move for Utrecht midfielder Taylor Booth this summer and coach Benni McCarthy appears to have revealed Erik ten Hag's interest in the midfielder dates back to last summer.
Booth was previously on the books of German giants Bayern Munich, but turned down the offer of a new contract to join Utrecht in search of regular first team football. And the 22-year-old's decision has paid dividends, with Booth becoming a key player for Utrecht and earning international honours.
As a result of his impressive breakout season, the Daily Mail claims United are weighing up a move for Booth as a potential alternative to Mason Mount. And former Blackburn and West Ham striker McCarthy, who joined Ten Hag's coaching staff last July, appears to have confirmed that the move came about as a result of the Red Devils boss making enquiries about Booth, who he shares an agent with.
"Erik ten Hag came in and he spoke to my agent, Rob Moore, about one of the players that was playing in Holland," McCarthy told 947 Joburg earlier this month. "He asked Rob about an American player that Rob also managed.
"They were just speaking about that and once the conversation had ended, he asked him: 'By the way, how's Benni? How is Benni doing? Is he still working in South Africa?' Rob told him that I had left and was living back in Scotland.
"He then asked Rob to tell me to give him [Ten Hag] a call and if I could go and see him in Manchester. When Rob told me the manager wanted to come and see him, there was a massive lump in my throat.
"I called him, I spoke to him and he asked me to come down and deliver a training session." Utrecht chief Jordy Zuidam has already admitted the club would be willing to sell Booth this summer, setting a €12m (£10.3m) asking price for the 22-year-old.
"I know that there is a lot of interest in players like Booth," he said. "If we want to keep the club healthy, we have to make transfers. We aim to [bring in] about €12million.
"You try to keep these boys, but you have to be realistic. And that will show in the coming [transfer] period." And Booth has previously said he would be "flattered" by interest from a top Premier League club like United.
"I'm flattered if the national teams of USA or Italy think about me or clubs in the Premier League, La Liga or Serie A. Since I was a little boy playing soccer in the basement of our home in Eden, I've always said you can't dream big enough."
