Manchester United’s deadline day was along expected lines, as no player walked through the door, but the future of the squad was secured in some way.
The deadline day was about trimming the edges of the squad, mainly to do with players who are too good for academy football.
Man Utd were also proactive with other players like Ethan Wheatley, who was recalled in January from Northampton, so he could move to a better team like Bradford City.
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While Wheatley’s move is undoubtedly positive, another youngster got a 9/10 move that was the biggest pleasant surprise.
Gabriele Biancheri and James Scanlon celebrate for Man Utd u21s
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Ethan Wheatley to Bradford City (Loan) – 8/10
Wheatley had hit a bit of a rough patch last season after a forgettable loan spell at Walsall but United trusted him.
His physical ability and link-up play are tantalising, making him a potential Premier League-level striker if things fall into place.
Things did fall into place for him at Northampton in the first half of this season, as he impressed his teammates and the manager with his ability.
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So good was he that United thought it was best for him to get a new challenge, and promotion-chasing League One side Bradford City provided it.
Bradford have scored just 36 league goals in 28 games at the time of writing, and if Wheatley can power their promotion push, he could be playing Championship football next season.
James Scanlon to Swindon Town (Loan) – 6/10
James Scanlon secured the first senior loan of his career, and it must be said that it is a bit of a downer compared to his exploits at Carrington.
Scanlon is a senior Gibraltar international and scored for fun in the academy, so Man Utd fans could be forgiven for thinking that he should have gone to a better team.
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At least Swindon Town are in the race for promotion from League Two and score plenty of goals, so Scanlon can make an immediate impact.
He will hope that this is his first and last foray in the fourth division of English football.
Gabriele Biancheri to Rotherham (Loan) – 7/10
Gabriele Biancheri, much like Scanlon, has long been ready for a senior football challenge, and he’s got it at a team in one division higher than Scanlon’s Swindon.
Biancheri has been prolific for the United academy, so senior football is the natural next step, and playing with Dan Gore at Rotherham is a sign of trust between United and the League One side.
If he can replicate his scoring form at the United academy for Rotherham, it will open the path for a Championship loan next season.
The only negative thing about this is that he was linked to clubs like Swansea and Cardiff, being Welsh, but he’s ended up at a club placed lower in the English football league than either of those clubs.
Jacob Devaney to St Mirren (Loan) – 9/10
Of the four players to move on deadline day, Jacob Devaney’s move to Scottish Premiership side St Mirren is the biggest pleasant surprise.
Jacob Devaney of Manchester United U21
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Like Scanlon and Biancheri, Devaney hasn’t had any senior football experience either, and for a first-division side to take a bet on him speaks volumes about his potential.
Granted, it’s the Scottish League, and St Mirren are among the teams in the lower end of the table, but he’ll come up against some brilliant teams like league leaders Hearts and Rangers, to name just two.
For comparison, it took Ethan Williams a loan at Cheltenham Town before Scottish Premiership’s Falkirk took a punt on him.
If Devaney can impress for a struggling St Mirren side, then he might bypass English Football’s lower division altogether and earn a move straight to the Championship next season.
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