Manchester United are planning on using their with INEOS-owned Nice to help the development of one £7 million player this summer.
Manchester United are putting a lot of their eggs in the youth basket at the moment when it comes to recruitment, and Diego Leon has reportedly already had a plan laid out for him ahead of the new season, before he’s even officially signed for the club.
The Reds landed the signing of the highly rated defender in February for a £7 million package, with the player, who plays as a left full-back or a wingback, remaining at Cerro Porteño until the end of the season.
There is a belief the starlet, who is just 18 years old, is likely to join up with United during the pre-season tour and Ruben Amorim will be eager to get a look at his abilities, as left full-back is a position of very little cover at the moment.
A plan, however, has reportedly already been formulated regardless of Amorim’s assessments of Leon, as he is set to leave the club on loan when the time comes.
Diego Leon loan plan revealed
United are anticipated to send Leon on loan this summer, with a potential loan deal to OGC Nice a likely destination. INEOS are eager to use their connections to the other two clubs they own, as well as United, in Nice and Lausanne Sport, to aid the development of their younger players at Old Trafford.
This has been a method used by Todd Boehly at Chelsea, with a number of young players at Chelsea playing their football at Strasbourg in France over the last two seasons. Highly rated Brazilian Andrey Santos is a prime example of the club using the method to improve their players for the future.
Leon comes with huge potential but will definitely be raw coming from a league like the Paraguayan league. Some of that rawness may need to be refined before making the leap to United, and a club like Nice in a physical league like the French one is the perfect stepping stone.
The proposed plan was revealed by journalist Graeme Bailey recently, who suggested the idea to send Leon on loan was a likely option.
Speaking to United In Focus, Bailey had this to say: “I’ve been told that the plan for Diego Leon is for him to head out on loan next season to a club in Europe. This could possibly be a loan to Ineos-owned Lausanne, although I believe they are aiming higher.
“United might look to send him on loan to Nice now that those issues around moving players between are not a thing, given United are not in Europe.”
United had issues trying to sign Jean Clair Todibo from Nice in recent years due to both clubs being in the Europa League together, but with the Reds missing out on Europe, those restrictions are expected to be lifted.
United will keep either Leon or Amass
It will likely be a choice between Harry Amass and Leon in regards to who remains at the club this summer, with Amorim unlikely to want three left-wing backs to choose from. Amass began to feature a lot more for the first team towards the end of the season, so it will be interesting to see what choice is made.
Leon comes with a lot of pace and power, but if the club believes in Amass, the right choice may be to keep him at the club next season and push him to challenge Patrick Dorgu for the number one spot.
A loan to Nice, however, would benefit either player, but Amass being so highly rated internally at the club by the senior and academy staff may just stand to him when it comes to who stays and goes on loan next season.
No matter what happens with either player, it’s a nice headache for Amorim to have, no pun intended.
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