Manchester United’s transfer business over the past year has seen several success stories already, which is a grand change from the previous decade or longer.
Ineos are regularly criticised for the tough decisions they have made at Manchester United to fix the mess inherited from the Glazer family.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has slashed jobs at the club and raised ticket prices in an effort to avoid the club entering financial ruin by the end of 2025. After a tough year, Ineos will feel vindicated as United made a profit in the previous financial quarter, which places the club at a point where things can be rebuilt in a sensible manner.
One major aspect of the club easing financial concerns is working smarter in the transfer market, with some excellent moves over the past 12 months. Despite making some harsh and unpopular calls, Ineos deserves praise for the recruitment changes, which have seen a heavy focus on signings for the future and present.
Now, United have completed a signing for this summer, which adds to a double swoop completed over the past two windows, setting up Ruben Amorim in one position for potentially 15 years.
Ayden Heaven celebrates goal for Manchester United.
Photo by Yu Chun Christopher Wong/Manchester United via Getty Images
Harley Emsden-James signing sets Manchester United up for the future
Despite only being in the middle of June, United have been very active in the transfer market. A deal to sign Matheus Cunha has been completed for £62.5m, while Bryan Mbeumo looks to be joining him in a matter of when, not if.
However, this week United have completed the academy signing of Harley Emsden-James from Southampton for a fee of just £1m.
The 16-year-old is rated as one of the nation’s most promising central defenders, with much of the Premier League’s elite keen before he chose to join United.
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It is likely that he will spend the year bouncing between the U18 and U21 teams, but we have seen proof already that £1m academy signings by United have a fast-track route to the first team, with Chido Obi already a regular in the first team.
Emsden-James joins an elite group of young central defenders at Old Trafford, which could see United sorted in the position for the next decade or longer.
Manchester United have incredible centre-back options for the next 15 years
Emsden-James is the third elite potential young centre-back United have signed in as many transfer windows, following on from Leny Yoro last summer and Ayden Heaven in January.
Both of these have become instant sensations, with Heaven a true first-team player after his £1.5m arrival from Arsenal. Emsden-James will not have as rapid a rise, considering he turned 16 in March, but he joins a very talented centre-back cohort in the academy.
Jayden Ngwashi and Godwill Kukonki are two of the most exciting central defenders in England, and so is Emsden-James, meaning the trio will more than likely end up joining the first team over the next few years.
Ineos’ triple swoop to add Yoro, Heaven, and Emsden-James over the past 12 months may have future-proofed the position for the next 15 years. In 2040, Yoro will be 34, Heaven 33 and Emsden-James just 31.
So, all being well, and assuming they all reach levels expected, there could be no need to sign a centre-back for years, along with Ngwashi, Kukonki, Tyler Fredricson, and Dan Armer as well.