Liverpool and Man United tracking Hertha Berlin prodigy Kennet Eichhorn in £17m move

Liverpool and Manchester United are monitoring German talent Kennet Eichhorn, with Hertha Berlin open to a sale around £17m. The profile checks a lot of boxes for both clubs: press resistant, secure in tight spaces, and able to set tempo from deep. Fans are already calling him the next Toni Kroos, and while that tag is heavy, the stylistic echoes are there. With the January window approaching, the fee looks accessible and the pathway clear. From my time in dressing rooms, this is the kind of calculated bet that can tilt a season. Expect movement if talks align on role and development.

Mirror Football reports that Liverpool and Manchester United are keeping tabs on Kennet Eichhorn, with Hertha Berlin willing to consider offers near £17m. The timing is aligned with the upcoming winter window, when Premier League clubs typically accelerate midfielder searches. Hertha’s stance suggests flexibility on structure, which often unlocks deals at this price point. The interest fits both clubs’ recruitment patterns for technical 6-8 profiles capable of controlling rhythm and progressing play.

🚨 NEW: Liverpool and Manchester United are keeping tabs on German wonderkid Kennet Eichhorn, who Hertha Berlin are willing to let go for £17M. [@MirrorFootball]

@UtdXclusive

Impact Analysis

If either Liverpool or Manchester United land Eichhorn at £17m, it is a classic low-risk, high-upside play in a market where elite controllers cost triple. For Liverpool under Arne Slot, the need is clear. Mac Allister has covered deeper phases well but is still most dangerous when he can step higher. A pass-first metronome behind him would smooth Liverpool’s first and second phases, reduce chaotic turnovers, and get the front line receiving cleaner ball. Slot’s positional play thrives on a midfielder who shows, opens the body, and breaks lines with calm repetition. That is exactly the profile being linked.

For United, the logic is just as strong. They have improved out of possession but still drift in matches where tempo slips away. Pairing a composed organizer with Kobbie Mainoo would give Erik ten Hag a double-pivot solution that can control games without sacrificing progression. At £17m, Eichhorn can be integrated without the pressure that comes with a marquee fee, and his development can be paced sensibly.

Hertha benefit too. An exit at this price strengthens their balance sheet and validates their pathway from academy to first team to major sale. From a regulatory standpoint, the Premier League’s onboarding processes and development plans are robust, which matters for a young midfielder transitioning from German football. In short, the fee, the tactical need, and the timing all line up.

Reaction

Fan sentiment online is split between excitement and caution. One camp is all in on the profile, calling for a quick move and leaning into the comparison with Toni Kroos. That tag surfaced repeatedly, with comments like “United need to sign. Dubbed the next Toni Kroos,” capturing the buzz. Another camp stresses planning, not just collecting prospects. As one fan put it, United should avoid stacking too many potential signings without clear roles. That is fair, and it echoes the lessons of previous windows at both clubs.

There is also a practical chorus asking for numbers and more context. People want minutes, chance creation, progression data, and how he handles pressure phases. It is the right ask, because the fee is attractive but the Premier League pace is unforgiving. Mixed in are the usual internet detours, a random chess clip, and some snark aimed at United’s transfer track record. Strip away the noise and you get a clear throughline: supporters are open to the move if the club presents a defined plan for where Eichhorn plays and how he will be developed across the next 12 to 18 months.

Social reactions

I don’t care who he is, get him in he can replace Dalot. GET DALOT OUT KF MT F*CKING CLUB PLEASE 😭😭😭

jamal (@mydevilsopinion)

Good on football manager

𝖏𝖔𝖘𝖍𝖎𝖙𝖟𝟟𝟟✨ (@SLektus)

please need his stats

Neriah (@meaxzy2)

Prediction

Two clean scenarios sit on the table. The first has Manchester United acting quickly with a structured package near £17m plus add ons, keeping base salary prudent and baking in performance triggers. United need a controller who can share responsibility with Mainoo, and this move ticks the right boxes without consuming the entire winter budget. A late December breakthrough could set up medicals early in January. If United lock in a role and a clear integration plan, I can see this getting over the line fast.

The second scenario points to Liverpool. Slot’s game model rewards brave passers who open the pitch. If recruitment signs off on Eichhorn’s decision speed and posture under pressure, Liverpool could move just as decisively, potentially with a pathway that includes cup minutes, controlled league exposures, and Europa rotation depending on schedule. A loan back clause is possible but less likely at this fee if the buyer wants immediate depth.

My read as a former pro who has seen these negotiations up close: the price and timing make this a classic Premier League pounce. If both clubs push, United’s need at 6-8 feels marginally more urgent, so I give them a slight edge. Either way, I expect concrete talks to surface within the next few weeks, with a deal trackable before the mid window rush.

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Conclusion

Everything about this link makes sense. Accessible fee. Tactical fit for both Liverpool and Manchester United. A seller open to talks. When I was playing, the easiest transfers to complete were the ones where the football logic was obvious and the numbers sat in a comfortable range. That is the case here. The only real swing factors are role clarity and development plan. Get those right and the rest follows.

United can offer a well defined pivot alongside Mainoo and regain control in tough away matches. Liverpool can offer a mapped progression under Slot where first phase passing is valued every week. Hertha can secure a strong return and showcase their pathway. My expectation is that one of the two will formalize interest soon, with structure and playing time assurances front and center. If the coaching staff who wins this race protects the player’s rhythm and gives him repeatable patterns, he will adapt quickly. This looks and feels like a smart move waiting to happen.