Man Utd set to seal first signing of INEOS regime with move for 14-year-old wonderkid

Manchester United are set to make a 14-year-old wonderkid the first signing of the INEOS regime.

Last month INEOS - chaired by British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe - completed a minority takeover of United by purchasing a 25 per cent stake in the club.

INEOS will oversee the sporting side of the club, and Ratcliffe promised supporters that a thorough audit will be complete including a review of Erik ten Hag's squad.

It looks set to be a busy summer at Old Trafford with several positions identified for strengthening, although it looks like United have already secured their first signing.

The Red Devils are set to sign 14-year-old attacker Silva Mexes from Ipswich Town.

That's according to a report from The Secret Scout that claims Mexes has chosen to join United after being watches by several Premier League heavyweights.

He could join United's Carrington academy as early as this summer.

🚨Excl - Manchester United are close to securing 14-year-old Silva Mexes from Ipswich Town.

The young forward has been watched by all top clubs in the country. #MUFC aim for him to join this summer.

— TheSecretScout (@TheSecretScout_) March 15, 2024

Mexes is the son of former Premier League striker Robert Earnshaw, the only player to have scored a hat-trick in the Premier League, all three divisions of the English Football League, the FA Cup, League Cup and for his country.

Mexes does already have a connection to United; the first-team manager at Ipswich is Kieran McKenna, United's old U18s boss who had a stint as one of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's assistants at Old Trafford.

He has brought United academy graduates Axel Tuanzebe and Brandon Williams to Portman Road this season.

United have a rich history of developing young players, and Mexes could add to that.

249 academy graduates have made their senior debuts at United, who have included at least one homegrown talent in every matchday squad for the last 85 years.

Omari Forson became the latest starlet to make his senior bow when he replaced Marcus Rashford in January's 2-0 FA Cup win at Wigan Athletic.

Should Mexes completed his move and progress through the ranks then he will look to replicate the impressive rise of Kobbie Mainoo this season.