Manchester United must make a decision over a possible loan move for a young midfielder who’s shone on international duty.
Manchester United have used loans this season to develop their youth players and allow them to adapt to first-team football. Currently, Harry Amass, Toby Collyer and Radek Vitek are amongst the loanees adapting to English football in the Championship.
The United U]under-21s team have been on top form this season and sit in second place in the Premier League 2. Impressive wins over Notts County and Rochdale’s first teams show that many of the players are ready for professional football.
Kobbie Mainoo is the most recent example of a Carrington graduate consistently featuring amongst the United first team, although Jack Fletcher was recently chosen by Rúben Amorim as a substitute in the Premier League against Tottenham Hotspur.
Amorim will look towards the academy stars to fill in for the absent AFCON players in December, allowing them opportunities to impress against some of England’s best teams. He may also wish to send more out on loan during the January transfer window.
Kone to return to under-21s following international performance
Amongst the under-21s’ brightest stars is Sékou Koné, who signed for the academy from Mali side Guidars FC in August 2024. The young midfielder featured throughout last season for the under-21s but picked up an eye injury against Tamworth in August this season.
Koné has now returned to the under-21s, making an appearance in the last seconds in United’s win over Notts County. The Midfielder was also chosen for international duty for the Mali under-23s side.
Mali’s under-23 side played two friendlies against Indonesia 23’s this week, where Kone played half an hour off the bench in the first and started the second. Koné went on to score both of Mali’s goals in a 2-2 draw, showing clever attacking attributes, despite being more of a defensive midfielder.
These performances show that Koné has regained his fitness and is ready to regularly feature for the under-21s again. Amorim will be keeping a close eye on the 19-year-old as he tries to break into the first team.
Amorim to hand Koné loan next season
Reports from Manchester World suggest that the teenager could be given the option to leave United on loan in the summer and gain more senior football experience. Koné is unlikely to get minutes for the first team over the remainder of the season, so may look towards a loan move away.
A loan move would help the midfielder develop and serve as an opportunity to catch the eye of Amorim, who could be looking to fill in midfielder positions with Mainoo and Bruno Fernandes rumoured to be moving away.
Amorim must look to rotate the squad in the coming months with a tight winter fixture list and AFCON absences. This could provide many opportunities for under-21 players to shine against Premier League teams.
Amorim has also expressed his desire to keep the 88-year-long streak of having a homegrown player in the squad and, with Mainoo possibly leaving on loan, he must bring Carrington graduates to the first team.
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