Manchester United Under-21s arrived at Leigh Sports Village on Tuesday night, with notable academy names Shea Lacey, Chido Obi, Sekou Kone and Diego Leon absent from the squad. The focus now shifts to the fate of these players in the January transfer window. Obi has yet to make a first-team appearance this season, Lacey was a substitute for consecutive Premier League matches against Everton and Crystal Palace, while Diego Leon and Sekou Kone are transitioning between the U21s and senior side.
Early indications suggest that Lacey and Obi will remain at the club, but loan offers for Leon and Kone, who could benefit from playing senior football in the latter half of the season, will be considered. Other potential loan candidates who started against Anderlecht on Tuesday night in the Premier League International Cup include Jacob Devaney, Gabriele Biancheri, Jayce Fitzgerald and James Scanlon. This could bring the total number of potential loan departures to six.
The selection process at United ahead of the winter window involves assessing players who may have plateaued in academy football and determining whether a change of environment would be beneficial.
Devaney, who captained the U21s from the midfield base on Tuesday, has consistently delivered strong performances this season, and shone for Ireland's U21s against England during the November international break, earning praise against the likes of Jobe Bellingham, Ethan Nwaneri and Lewis Hall.
That performance indicated he could handle the challenge of a loan move further down the English football pyramid. Biancheri would also gain from time away, as he's not benefiting much from U21 football.
He faced the thankless task of spearheading the attack against Anderlecht, and appeared understandably frustrated as he drifted about during the opening period with minimal support up front.
The Welsh youngster has trained with the senior national squads of Wales and Canada (he's eligible for both), experience that would serve him well should he depart on loan.
Scanlon was born in the Midlands but plays international football for Gibraltar, netting a superb goal against the Faroe Islands in a World Cup qualifier last summer. He's another who merits consideration for a loan spell, alongside Fitzgerald, who has somewhat stagnated after being included in senior matchday squads against Chelsea and PAOK last season.
Scanlon and Biancheri provided minimal threat going forward during the opening half against Anderlecht, but United struggled collectively, conceding numerous opportunities against an aggressive Belgian outfit. U21 boss Travis Binnion urged his team to "keep the ball" following periods of Anderlecht dominance, encouraging the youngsters to give themselves respite and establish control in the match.
Ahead of the match, it was announced that Binnion would not be available for interviews with the local reporters who had travelled to Leigh. This decision, which is out of character for the usually accessible Binnion, was made by the club.
Despite a lacklustre first half where United struggled to maintain possession, they managed to take the lead just before half-time thanks to a powerful header from Devaney.
The Anderlecht coach, clad in a tracksuit reminiscent of the Winter Olympics, was left stunned as his team fell behind after missing four excellent opportunities. Their profligacy was duly punished.
Just minutes into the second half, Anderlecht forward Enzo Sternal capitalised on a fumbled shot to level the score. The Anderlecht staff celebrated as if they had scored in a World Cup final.
Terry van de Ven then put the visitors ahead 2-1, sparking more jubilant celebrations. Binnion could only shake his head on the touchline as Anderlecht added a third and then a fourth goal.
What Binnion will take away from this game remains uncertain. Discussions are ongoing about potential loan moves for certain players, and efforts should be focused on arranging these during the January transfer window.
Finding suitable loan deals for academy players, particularly in the winter window, is no easy task. However, there are at least six players who stand to gain little from continuing to play in youth matches.
It will be intriguing to see which academy players have departed by the end of January.