Those in charge of Manchester United now have an ‘acceptance’ about one transfer stance which fans will not be in agreement with.
Manchester United have secured four signings so far this summer and Senne Lammens is expected to become the fifth in the final week of the window.
In terms of player exits, only one senior player has departed the club – Marcus Rashford to Barcelona – and that was only on a season-long loan deal.
But there could be several more departures before the deadline and one of those is likely to be Alejandro Garnacho, another Academy graduate from Carrington.
Now, reports are emerging that Kobbie Mainoo is open to leaving due to doubts over his future in Ruben Amorim’s side and while this seems unlikely, it is creating concerns about United’s identity.
United chiefs now have ‘acceptance’ about transfer stance
The identity of Manchester United can simply be defined in three words: Youth, courage and success. The club themselves use that motto and fans do as well.
United have named at least one Academy graduate in every matchday squad for over 80 years. Mainoo and Tyler Fredricson were both included in the squad against Arsenal, as well as at Fulham.
But neither of those players made an appearance, and it does feel strange that we’re thinking about United’s best lineups and some do not include someone who has come through at Carrington.
New reports from the Manchester Evening News have claimed that United chiefs have an ‘acceptance’ that the one-club man is over in this era of profitability and sustainability rules.
That won’t sit right for many fans who grew up idolising the likes of Paul Scholes, Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs, among many others, and it seems to move away from the club’s identity.
Ashworth explained why this is happening
The financial rules in the Premier League have forced many clubs to adapt and change their approach. Academy talents are sold on for profit so you can sign new shiny players.
United’s former football director suggested that this was going to become an influence last year when he was still at the club.
“I don’t want to sit here and say no player is going to be a one-club person again,” he told journalists when discussing Scott McTominay’s move to Napoli.
“But the rules have, as an unintended consequence, made it slightly more attractive to sell players with a zero-book value, which is consequently either players you sign on a free or players that come through your system.”
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No one is asking for United to have a team filled with Academy talent, and for none to be sold. It is well known that United must improve in their ability to make £10-20 million from these kind of players rather than £1-5 million.
But that also doesn’t mean every top talent should be sold just because they could represent a healthy profit. That is simply not what United is about.
Amorim was praised so much for his work with the youth at Sporting, and he has to bring more of that to Old Trafford as long as he’s in the job.
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