Seeing a young player come up through the academy system to establish himself as a star in the first-team is a joy for Manchester United supporters to watch.
The famous class of '92, including the likes of David Beckham and Paul Scholes, were a great example of the quality that can be unearthed from the youth set-up.
Gary-Neville-David-Beckham
Kobbie Mainoo, who has started 15 matches in the Premier League this season, is the latest player to emerge as a star at Old Trafford after coming through the academy.
It does not always work out perfectly, irrespective of talent, however, and former Manchester United attacking midfielder Jesse Lingard will tell you that.
Jesse Lingard's unfulfilled potential
The English dynamo came up through the academy and starred for the United first-team, after spells on loan at Birmingham, Brighton Derby, and Leicester, as he made 232 appearances for the senior side.
Lingard's best season in a United shirt came in the 2017/18 campaign. The midfield star scored eight goals and provided six assists in 33 Premier League outings that term.
However, Lingard was never able to kick on and only managed five goals and two assists in his next 49 Premier League matches for the club over the next two-and-a-half seasons before being sent out on loan to West Ham at the start of 2021.
West-Ham-Lingard-Premier-League-Soler
The academy graduate went on to plunder an eye-catching nine goals and four assists in 16 league games for the Hammers, but never recaptured that form at Old Trafford and left on a free transfer in the summer of 2022.
United may, now, have another Lingard on their hands in the form of Marcus Rashford, who is on his way to following in his former teammate's footsteps.
Why Marcus Rashford could be Jesse Lingard 2.0
Like the former Red Devils midfielder, Rashford came up through the youth ranks and emerged as a star in the first-team for United as an exciting, versatile, attacker.
Marcus-Rashford-Aston-Villa
The England international has had some terrific seasons at Old Trafford, hitting double figures for goals in four Premier League seasons, including a return of 17 goals and five assists in the 2022/23 campaign.
Like Lingard, again, Rashford has failed to hit the same heights in the subsequent 18 months since that impressive haul. He has only managed 11 goals and three assists in 48 league matches since that term.
After the 2-0 loss to Arsenal at The Emirates earlier this season, Manchester United legend Roy Keane described his general play as "shocking", which speaks to how badly the forward's performance levels have dropped in the past 18 months. He was also described as a "major, major problem" by writer Liam Canning.
The winger was then sent out on loan to Aston Villa in January of this year and United are reportedly still paying £75k-per-week of his £300k-per-week wages, which means that he is on more than Alejandro Garnacho (£50k-per-week), despite not being at the club at the moment.
Premier League (23/24 + 24/25) Garnacho Rashford
Appearances 59 48
Goals 10 11
Big chances created 9 10
Assists 5 3
Stats via Sofascore
There is a £40m option for the Villans to make the deal permanent in the summer and this means that Rashford could officially become Lingard 2.0 by allowing his form to plummet before going on loan to another Premier League side mid-season, before leaving permanently.
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United and INEOS have their eye on signing a player who has an expensive release clause.
It is a shame that it has come to this for Rashford, who - as aforementioned - has been a great player for the Red Devils in the past, but it appears to be the best for all parties to close this chapter of his career in the summer.