Manchester United are reportedly advanced in negotiations to sign yet another fantastic teenage star as they look to add to their Academy ranks.
In the last month, Manchester United’s form on the pitch has been fantastic, with Rúben Amorim’s senior side scoring eight goals in three games and defeating Sunderland, Liverpool, and Brighton.
However, while the recent success of the men’s first team has been uplifting for the fans, those who have regularly kept tabs on Academy sides have been enjoying much more sustained success.
Darren Fletcher’s U18s are second in the U18 Premier League table, while the U21s team sit top of the PL2 table, having won all seven of their opening fixtures.
Many young stars, such as 15-year-old JJ Gabriel and teen talents Chido Obi and Shea Lacey, are bristling with talent, and reports suggest Amorim is keeping a keen eye on those at Carrington.
United closing in on Filling transfer
In the last two seasons, United have adopted a fairly aggressive approach to the youth transfer market, looking to snap up some of the brightest talents across the globe early in their careers and building them from there.
According to Sky Germany transfer journalist Florian Plettenberg, the club are now in “concrete negotiations to sign 16-year-old AIK Fotboll striker Kevin Filling.
The young star made a stunning debut for Swedish side AIK Fotboll earlier this season, scoring with a “nerveless” strike. He has gone on to make ten appearances across all competitions this campaign, scoring three goals.
According to Plettenberg, the transfer is set to be concluded for around £2.63 million. It could happen as early as January, although there is no clarification on whether he can join the club then or if it is a deal that will be agreed now and sanctioned once Filling turns 18 in November 2026.
United are finally future-proofing
Too often in the last decade, there have been very few talented young stars to call upon when needed for the first team. It has been a regular occurrence for United that, after a few injuries in the senior squad, managers have turned to the Academy, but found little in the way of consistent talent.
In the last few years, players such as Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho have found a path to the first team through their talent and their need to be relied upon due to injuries, but for the most part, United have had to spend big to fill the gaps in their senior men’s team.
However, with the number of young stars currently making their way through the U18s and U21s ranks, it feels as if United are future-proofing themselves.
The club signed players such as Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha for the here and now, but young stars such as Gabriel and Lacey are fantastic options that can be grown into world-class first-team players once the current senior crop moves on.
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