Manchester United came into the transfer window with one main goal: Strengthen in midfield.
Ineos have delivered on Manchester United’s top brief heading into the summer, by adding a combination of quality and quantity to the midfield. Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans are set to be joined by Carlos Baleba.
United have never signed three first team midfielders in one transfer window, this is unprecedented targeting from the club’s recruitment staff.
They may not be done either. A deal could still go through to sign Leicester City prospect Louis Page.
United’s initial approach to sign Page was rejected by Leicester. However, the midfielder was left out of their League One opener and could still be sold this window.
It is simply a matter of price, and it’s relatively small money for United to be negotiating over.
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Louis Page move would further add to midfield
Louis Page was viewed as an Ayden Heaven type signing who could play for both the under-21s and the first team.
With 22 first team appearances for Leicester, Page won the Championship Apprentice of the Year Award last season, an honour previously won by Jude Bellingham.
United led competition from Arsenal to sign Page, and would not want to lose out at this stage.
Carlos Baleba’s move does not have to end United’s pursuit. The club is still expecting to sell Toby Collyer, who could have provided depth. Page would become a replacement.
Over the course of a long season, Page would likely get minutes with injuries and suspensions. It would be up to him to prove from there that he deserves further opportunity.
Page is a potentially top talent who could benefit from learning alongside Carlos Baleba, Kobbie Mainoo and co.
For a fee expected to be in the £10-15 million range, he could be an astute final addition this window, an added luxury.
Louis Page deal would leave one question
Manchester United moving for Louis Page would add serious depth to the club’s midfield.
But it would also ask a question… how can anybody else break through?
There is huge talent in the academy, with a few names listed below…
- Jacob Devaney
- Jim Thwaites
- Cristian Orozco
- Sekou Kone (on loan)
- Jay McEvoy
The Fletcher twins can also be added to the mix. A move for Louis Page would jeopardise the pathway for all of the above.
Now, competition is a good thing, and United could simply take a view that the very best talents will eventually rise to the top.
But they do not want to risk selling an absolute top talent and making an expensive mistake, or wasting a player’s potential.
With Santos, Tielemans, Baleba, Mainoo and Page – only Tielemans has a relatively short shelf-life in the team due to his age.
It is great that United are finally getting organised and sorting the future of the midfield, but there is certainly a risk of talent being squeezed out.
from United In Focus https://ift.tt/c5JO3zd