Legia Warsaw coach Aleksandar Vukovic has admitted that Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur target Michal Karbownik could leave this summer if the Polish giants receive an offer they cannot refuse, speaking to Sport.
Poland seem to have a happy habit of producing prolific number nines but, in this dynamic teen sensation, they appear to have a full-back of top-class potential on their hands too.
Though whether Karbownik actually remains on the flanks remains to be seen.
The 19-year-old has produced eight assists from left-back in 2019/20 alone but there is a growing feeling that, like Trent Alexander-Arnold at Liverpool, his future lies in the centre of the park instead.
Karbownik has already been compared to Joshua Kimmich, Bayern Munich’s defender-turned-playmaker, while catching the eye of countess Premier League clubs including Spurs and Southampton (Sportowefakty).
Whether he is ready for a move to England is another matter. Vukovic is certainly of the opinion that another 12 months in Poland would do his development no harm whatsoever.
“I really hope it won’t happen. There is a lot of talk about Karbownik. If something very big appears, the offer cannot be refused, then you will have to accept it,” Vukovic admits. “Because that’s the climate we are living in.
“In my opinion, one more season spent in Legia would be optimal for (Karbownik). He would confirm what he was showing now and take a step forward. He would be more ready to cope overseas.
“Recently, Partizan Belgrade sold a player to Monaco for 10 million euros and has already loaned him out. There are clubs that can afford to buy a player for unimaginable money for us and wait for him for a long time.
“Karbo is my kid. I probably would never sell him. Unfortunately, the reality is different.”
Strahinja Pavlovic is the Partizan Belgrade player Vukovic refers to.
Like Karbownik, the 19-year-old established himself as one of the most exciting youngsters in Eastern Europe but, despite joining Monaco for big money, was forced to re-join Partizan on loan in search of regular game time.
The Mirror (26 April, page 68) reports that Spurs have been tracking the £9 million-rated Karbownik for over a year.
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