As the club approaches the last few days of the summer transfer window, an Academy star is still pushing for a move, despite a move to Turkey collapsing.
Although Manchester United’s summer spending came to a close on the first of September, they have still had the opportunity to move on additional players to leagues such as Turkey, whose window shut on the 12th of September.
André Onana, who had fallen out of favour in Ruben Amorim’s squad, secured a loan deal to Trabzonspor for the remainder of the season. Tyrell Malacia was also rumoured to have finally secured a move to Turkey, but talks broke down.
United had a successful transfer window, moving on players deemed surplus to requirements at the club. Alejandro Garnacho and Antony secured permanent moves away, while Rasmus Højlund, Marcus Rashford, and Jadon Sancho all headed out on loan, with the former two’s loan deals containing options to buy next summer.
Several Academy prospects have also left on loan in search of securing playing time elsewhere, as game time will be hard to come by at United, owing to a lack of European football and the club having crashed out of the Carabao Cup in the second round.
The likes of Harry Amass, Toby Collyer and Ethan Wheatley secured moves away to Sheffield Wednesday, West Brom and Northampton, respectively.
Mather still looking for a move away
Another Academy player who was set for a move away from Old Trafford is Sam Mather, who was close to securing a move to Turkish side Kayserispor, having attracted interest from Sweden and Germany earlier in the window.
Despite a deal being close, it was confirmed that an agreement for the “fantastic” star collapsed on deadline day as the window closed.
The 21-year-old has seemingly no path to first-team plans, and with the prospect of spending four more months in the Academy, where he has been “fantastic”, the winger is still pushing for a move away before all transfer markets shut.
Despite negotiations ending for a deadline day move to Turkey, Simon Stone, Football Reporter for BBC Sport, reported that a move to the UAE and Qatar is still a possible avenue that the 21-year-old is willing to go down in search of regular first-team football.
The transfer window in Qatar ends in just two days on the 15th, while the United Arab Emirates’ window runs until October 1st. With Mather seriously pushing for a move away, a deal could certainly get done before all markets close until January.
A move away good for both parties
At the age of 21, Mather has never featured for United’s first team, with the winger only experiencing 12 matches of senior football, which came during loan spells at Rochdale and Tranmere Rovers.
United are reportedly looking for a permanent sale, but will also consider a loan with an obligation to buy for the winger who looked promising for United’s youth sides, with a permanent move looking the best way for the 21-year-old to fulfil his potential.
In terms of United’s Academy, selling Mather will allow James Scanlon, a fascinating prospect who plays the same position, to become the first choice for the youth team.
The 18-year-old rivalled Mather for minutes previously, and having already trained with the first team, Scanlon could be the next academy talent in line for a potential debut.
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