Manchester United appear to be planning ahead for the future, with Erik ten Hag keen on adding a youngster to his squad next year who is currently setting the continent alight.

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German journalist Christian Falk has claimed that Bayern Munich are looking to bring Barcelona midfielder Gavi to Germany, although United and Liverpool are also believed to be after the youngster.

The 18-year-old's contract expires at the end of this season, with the aforementioned trio sniffing around due to his reluctance to sign a new deal, it could be a nervy few months for Blaugrana boss Xavi.

Ten Hag could unearth the next Totti

Gavi has been a revelation since breaking through at Barcelona last season, making 51 appearances in all competitions and contributing two goals and six assists, proving to the world that he is a “wonderkid” (as hailed by journalist Charlotte Coates) and could reach the very top.

He has even been likened to the former AS Roma and Italy forward Francesco Totti by Demetrio Albertini, who said: “Gavi is an exception, he’s Francesco Totti, let’s call him that.

“But in Spain players can come through at second teams, where talent is confronted with experience. A talented player can be seen right away, there he has the courage that when you give him the opportunity, he takes it without fear.”

This is high praise indeed, and the parallels between the two players are very similar. Both made their debuts as shy teenagers for two of the biggest clubs on the continent (Totti got his first-team bow at 16) and Gavi certainly has all the talent in the world to follow in the Italian's footsteps.

With the European heavyweights of Bayern and United sniffing around, the 18-year-old might not stay a one-club man like Totti, but Barcelona should be doing all that they can to keep him.

His creative guile allowed him to create eight big chances for his team-mates in La Liga last season, while also making 0.6 key passes per match and taking 51.4 touches each game. This shows that, despite his tender age, Gavi has a willingness to constantly get involved with the play and wants to create plenty of chances for his team.

Ten Hag will surely be desperate to add such a gifted player to his squad, especially as he looks to build for the future, and with the way things are going, Gavi looks like he can be the future of world football.