With the 2024/25 campaign finally over and the 2025 summer transfer window underway, Rúben Amorim has started preparations for his first full season at Manchester United.
Manchester United’s 2024/25 campaign was nothing short of a complete disaster, with the club finishing 15th in the Premier League table and losing the Europa League final to Tottenham.
The season started with relative optimism after Erik ten Hag brought in five new first-team players and himself signed a contract extension, but by the end of October, the Dutchman was out of a job, with Rúben Amorim taking the helm.
Despite improvement in European performances, United’s domestic form remained shoddy, crashing out of both the FA Cup and Carabao Cup, while the club won just two of their final ten Premier League fixtures.
However, individual performances from young stars such as Leny Yoro and Harry Amass, as well as a hopeful major influx of new signings this summer, give optimism for the future.
Amorim feels Heaven can become a United starter
Another youngster who has shone at Old Trafford is 18-year-old centre-back Ayden Heaven, who was signed for £1.5 million from Arsenal in January. He made six appearances for the club, including brilliant displays against Real Sociedad and his former side.
According to MailSport, Amorim sees Heaven as a young player whose sky is the limit, and there is a very real chance that he will compete for a starting position next campaign.
Although this may surprise many, one who Heaven’s displays have not taken aback is grassroots football coach Terry Bobie, who encountered Heaven while running elite-level grassroots side Levels FC in Barking and pushed him to sign for Arsenal.
“He was a central midfielder, left-footed, very gangly, but good on the ball,” Bobie told MailSport when recounting Heaven’s initial arrival at Levels FC. “He has that Paul Pogba-esque swagger. He doesn’t really rush things which you can see to this day. He is so relaxed and he just does things at his pace.
“When I was coaching him I’d say ‘Ayden, come on man, game pace’ but you have to take a step back and look at it from the perspective of he could see things the average kid doesn’t see.
“He executes things really well and that stood out for me. He’s always been technically very, very good on the ball.”
Heaven may play as a midfielder next season
When United signed Heaven, initial reports stated that part of the player’s decision was influenced by the English defender’s desire to play in midfield.
This is something that Arsenal were less willing to do, considering that another one of their Academy stars, Myles Lewis-Skelly, is a natural midfielder despite playing at right-back for the senior team so far.
However, with Amorim’s system often seeing his middle centre-back step into midfield with the ball at his feet, Heaven has been touted as a possible option for the position next season, or even being deployed as a No. 6 alongside Kobbie Mainoo in the middle of the park.
“He can do so much,” Bobie continued. “I think there is more to come from his locker, and I know he can play midfield for Manchester United, 100 per cent, if given the opportunity.
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“It’s early days, but once he grows into it and gets confident, I know he can play in midfield.
“From when I used to work with him, the range of his passing is nuts, it’s crazy. He’s got a good eye for goal, too. There is more to come if he is made to feel comfortable enough to express himself in that way.”
With Casemiro only getting older, Manuel Ugarte failing to consistently impress so far, and United prioritising attacking signings, Heaven may be gifted the perfect chance to have a run out as a Premier League midfielder next season.
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