Man Utd have agreed three deals at youth level as they look to build for the future.
Manchester United are building for the future with three transfer agreements already in place at youth level in the summer window. The club have adapted their academy recruitment strategy, with a focus on signing top talent as early as possible in the hope it could save them millions further down the line.
Football director Jason Wilcox and director of recruitment Christopher Vivell have made it their mission to scout the globe for high-potential players, who could either go on to feature for the first-team, or who could later be sold for huge profits.
There were signs of the duos influence last season, when United won the race to sign Sekou Kone from Malian club Guidars FC. United sources described it as a 'bold signing' which saw their new football structure, recruitment team and scouting network come together to lure him to the club. It is the type of deal Vivell regularly worked on in his previous role as an executive with the Red Bull football group.
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Under current Brexit rules, Premier League clubs are not allowed to sign players from European Union countries without a work permit while foreign players under the age of 18 cannot be signed at all. It means there is even more emphasis on signing the best homegrown talent where possible, as United did when they poached both Chido Obi-Martin and Ayden Heaven from Arsenal.
It is a philosophy that will be followed again this summer, with a deal in place that will see Southampton starlet Harley Emsden-James join the club. United have agreed a £1 million compensation package for the 16-year-old defender, that also includes a 20 percent sell-on clause for the Championship side. Emsden-James is viewed as another high potential player, who United hope they can save millions on by securing a deal now, rather than after he has developed into a senior star.
United have also continued with their pursuit of top international talent, with deals in place that will see Paraguayan full-back Diego Leon join from Cerro Porteño next month, while French forward Enzo Kana-Biyik will arrive from Le Havre. It is understood Kana-Biyik will leave the club on loan this summer to continue his development, while a decision is still to be made on the immediate future of Leon.
It has already been revealed Kone is also set to leave the club on loan in the forthcoming window after he was given a year to acclimatise to his new surroundings. Leon could be given the same treatment as he looks to adapt to his new lifestyle, before his future is revisited in a year’s time.
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