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What will the Manchester United starting line-up look like in two to three years’ time?
In the first article of this three-part series, we explained the club’s policy of sacrificing today to build a better tomorrow.
Ineos and those that went before them have already brought in so many academy players that in another article we proposed a team of current United players who could make it to the first team in the near future.
In this article we look at starlets that United have on their shortlist, according to reports, and look at a possible XI with just four new signings this summer. All of the players are 22 years of age or younger.
1. Geovany Quenda (17)
Experiences with Erik ten Hag may have taught United a lesson with regard to trusting the manager’s instincts on transfers, but anyone with a football brain can see the incredible talent of Ruben Amorim’s former protegé at Sporting.
Quenda can play on the right or left and will turn 18 in April, making a June transfer a strong possibility. Reports from Portugal claim United have already agreed a €60 million deal with Sporting for the speedster’s services, although the reliable David Ornstein believes United are hoping to wrap a deal up for nearer the €40 million mark.
2. Chris Rigg (17)
It’s no wonder United are chasing the England U18 international and Sunderland are licking their lips at the prospect of a bidding war for a player reminiscent of the great Bryan Robson. His physique, passing range, engine and defensive capabilities have won him a regular starting berth with the Black Cats and he would surely be expected to progress to become a full England international in the near future.
3. Sverre Nypan (18)
United fans thought their club had missed out on the Norwegian phenomenon in January when it looked as if he might join Arsenal or Man City. But in the end he opted to stay at Rosenborg until the end of the season and reportedly is “relieved to have snubbed the opportunity to join Arsenal”. He has admitted before that it would be a “dream come true” to play for United and the Red Devils must be favourites once again to capture one of Europe’s most coveted signings.
4. Samu Omorodion (20)
While Viktor Gyokeres continues to be the most coveted striker in the Portuguese league, Samu has hit the ground running at struggling Porto since his bargain €15 million move from Atletico Madrid last summer. The Spaniard has 17 goals in 13 games in the league and 18 overall so far this term. Chelsea will be kicking themselves for missing out on a €40 million deal that fell through at the last minute in 2024.
The young star has a €100 million release clause, but Porto’s financial problems are well-documented and United might expect to cut a deal for £50-£60 million or so. Old Trafford might be the ideal destination for the powerful centre forward as he would surely be able to walk straight into the starting XI as he has at the Dragão.
Integrating these four starlets into the home-grown team of the future we proposed in the second part of the series would give us a United XI looking a little like this (we have “cheated” on Amorim and gone with a 4-2-3-1 for the purposes of this exercise):
Featured image Octavio Passos via Getty Images
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