Manchester United have agreed a deal to sign the Southampton starlet this summerManchester United have agreed a deal to sign the Southampton starlet this summer
Manchester United have agreed a deal to sign the Southampton starlet this summer | Getty Images
Man Utd are set to make another impressive addition at youth level.
Manchester United have won the race to sign Southampton defender Harley Emsden-James in the summer transfer window. The 16-year-old has been on the radar of many top clubs this summer, with United set to secure his signature ahead of the likes of both Arsenal and Aston Villa.
United view the teenage centre-back as a player with huge potential and will pay a compensation package in the region of £1 million for his services, which also include a 20 percent sell-on clause for the Championship club. It is understood football director Jason Wilcox played a key role in the negotiation of the deal with his former employers.
Emsden-James is set to play for United's U18 side next season and has already represented England at U15 level. It is understood a key reason why he has opted for a move to Manchester is due to the clear pathway between the youth set-up and the first-team squad.
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United set for another impressive youth addition
Manchester United are set to complete another impressive addition at youth level as they look to build for the future with their illustrious academy system. United have made a conscious effort in recent years to secure high-potential youth talent as early as possible, in an effort to save themselves millions in the long run.
It is believed that by paying a high compensation fee for a talented teenager early on, they can often avoid much larger transfer fees further down the line. Even if they do not go on to make it into the first-team squad, United should still be able to make a profit on youngsters who have been around the first-team frame at Old Trafford.
United sources have been eager to ease the pressure on Harley Emsden-James, but he is viewed in the same bracket of recent youth additions Ayden Heaven, Sekou Kone and Chido Obi. Heaven and Obi are both recognised as senior options by Ruben Amorim while Kone impressed on the post-season tour and is set to leave on loan this summer.
Emsden-James is the third teenager set to move to Manchester next month after the club also agreed deals to sign Paraguayan defender Diego Leon from Cerro Porteño and French forward Enzo Kana-Biyik from Le Havre.
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