Manchester United are reportedly ‘closing in’ on the signing of young left-back Jayden Meghoma, according to reports.
Manchester United and their full back positions are going through a right problem with their full-backs at the moment, with the club apparently listening to offers for both Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Brandon Williams.
Having already lost five key players this summer due to contract expirations, the club have many positions across the first-team field that need filling.
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This could lead to the Red Devils and Erik ten Hag turning to the academy to fill the hole that would be created through these two potential departures, as they look to spend the transfer budget on up to 5 other positions.
There are several exciting full-backs in United academy right now, with the two most notable names in the area being Ethan Laird and Alvaro Fernandez.
Laird has spent the season on loan in the Championship; first at Swansea, and then in January Manchester United decided to switch the loan to promotion-chasing Bournemouth.
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Unfortunately for Laird, his opportunities while at the Cherries became limited due to a mix of injuries and falling down the pecking order, and may have questioned why the player was shifted from such a successful start in South Wales.
Fernandez was acquired by Manchester United on a free transfer from Real Madrid in September 2017, around the same time the club also scouted and purchased Alejandro Garnacho, who has made headlines recently for his performances across the academy and with Argentina's first team and their youth team.
Both full-backs will be looking to have a look in Erik ten Hag’s first team squad this coming pre-season, and Manchester United are already looking to fit in line the next full-back talent reportedly in the shape of 15-year-old Jayden Meghoma.
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Meghoma has represented his current club Tottenham Hotspur at a level as high as their U18 side, which for a 15-year-old is incredibly impressive.
Recruitment sources at Manchester United have described the player as ‘one of the best in his age bracket in that position in Europe’.
He has also played for England’s U16 side on eight separate occasions, starting six times. The young Englishman has played both on the left and at centre-back this season, however plys his skills best while on the left hand flank.
With Fernandez set to stay in at least Manchester United’s U21 squad, there is a perfect opportunity for the youngster to slot into the club’s U18 side going forwards, and maybe in a few seasons time fans will see an older and improved Meghoma become involved in Erik ten Hag’s squads, assuming the player continues on the promising path he has arrived on.
As well as being a good move for Meghoma, this transfer also proves that Manchester United are wanting to re-strengthen their world-famous academy.
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As an academy that has produced some of England’s finest ever players, only in the last few seasons has the club started to invest in the players they produce.
The previously mentioned Alejandro Garnacho and Alvaro Fernandez are two to take note of, but another name that’s proof of significant investment is Hannibal Mejbri, who was purchased from Monaco for a fee rising to €10 million.
Many fans will be excited to see Manchester United's young talent on display during the early weeks of Erik ten Hag's reign as the club embark on a pre-season tour covering Asia, Australia and some of Northern Europe in preparation for the 2022/23 season.
Featured Image Credit: Tottenham HotspurTopics: Manchester United, Manchester United Transfer News & Rumours, Tottenham Hotspur, Erik Ten Hag, Football, Transfers