Manchester United are not generally a club that’s raised as the smartest operator in world football when it comes to transfers, but Ineos are determined to change that narrative with a low-key double deal in 2024-25.
The transfer windows under Ineos, all three of them so far, can all be considered successes on the basis of what’s already done.
The window last summer gave Man Utd genuine first-team quality in multiple positions, with no signing emerging as truly a “flop”.
Patrick Dorgu and Ayden Heaven in January were similar successes to varying degrees, while this window has started with a bang too as Matheus Cunha is through the door and Bryan Mbeumo could follow.
However, in all these high-profile transfers, it’s Ineos’ low-key double deal made in 2024/25 season that could haunt the rivals for years to come.
Photo by Yu Chun Christopher Wong/Manchester United via Getty Images
Photo by Yu Chun Christopher Wong/Manchester United via Getty Images
Man Utd could haunt rivals with Ayden Heaven and Chido Obi
After years of missing out on top youngsters, and putting band-aids on holes in the squad, and doing it all over again after a year or two, Ineos brought direction to Old Trafford.
The signings followed a long-term vision regardless of who the Man Utd manager is, as a competent club should do, and those high-profile transfers were supplemented by exciting youngsters.
Such was the success of this strategy that two players who were brought as ones for the future immediately staked their claim to disrupt the present.
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Ayden Heaven even surprised Ruben Amorim with how ready he looked for first-team action, and the next season is set to be a breakout one for him.
Chido Obi, on the other hand, was one of Europe’s hottest wonderkids so the fact he came to United alone was a statement, but he’s been fast-tracked to first-team status as well.
Obi impressed on the post-season tour and could well be United’s backup striker if they get their wish of selling Rasmus Hojlund and buying Viktor Gyokeres.
Better yet, both these players came from Arsenal, where they could have haunted United for years to come but the stakes were flipped by the club thanks to good scouting and proactive movement.
Now they will haunt Arsenal instead, quite a salivating thought for Man Utd.
Heaven and Obi are the blueprint for the future
Both Heaven and Obi have shown the ability to be a crucial part of United’s future while impacting the present, but it goes without saying that not every youngster will pan out this way.
There are bound to be some missed in the process because youth development is never linear, but the duo have given United the blueprint for the future.
Low-risk punts on exciting youngsters are a win-win scenario for the club because they either become first-team players or are sold for a profit.
Even if it goes completely wrong and they aren’t sold for a profit, the initial investment is so low that it barely makes any dent in the finances.
United are already on this path this summer as Enzo Kana-Biyik will arrive from Le Havre in France, while a deal for Diego Leon was sealed in January, set to arrive this summer.
A young core developing behind the senior team is how a competent club should run, and with deals like that of Heaven and Obi, United will be a potential nightmare for the opponents in years to come.