Manchester United are working hard behind the scenes and confirmed three new contracts.
Manchester United v Liverpool - Premier League
Man Utd have decisions to make (Image: Getty)
Manchester United have announced that three youngsters have put pen to paper on professional contracts with the club, and a fourth is expected to follow. The Red Devils have always prided themselves on developing top players from their academy and boast a stellar track record.
During this weekend’s Manchester Derby alone, two starters - Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo - hailed from the United academy. Meanwhile, other alumni include Gary Neville, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, and David Beckham.
Fred Heath and Dante Plunkett will be hoping to follow in their footsteps, with the goalkeeper and defender having signed their first professional contracts with the club. Whereas Will Murdock has signed a second professional contract at the 20-time English champions.
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Murdock has joined United’s Under-21s side, and was part of the United squad that travelled to the United States for pre-season in the summer of 2025. Heath was in this summer’s pre-season squad, and will also join up with the club’s under-21s, while Plunkett made 12 appearances for the under-18s in 2025/26.
Elsewhere, the Daily Mail claim that Noah Ajayi is also closing in on a professional contract with the Old Trafford outfit. The winger has been catching the eye with his performances, and as such, United are looking to reward him with a new deal.
Manchester United v Nottingham Forest - Premier League
Man Utd are renowned for their academy (Image: Getty)
It’s been a controversial week for United’s academy though, after news that JJ Gabriel has refused to train and is looking to leave the club. It’s been claimed that his entourage have asked United to terminate his contract, which is set to expire at the end of the season.
The 15-year-old’s situation has put top clubs across Europe on red alert, including rivals Manchester City, and fellow Premier League side Chelsea. But it’s also suggested that the big two in Spain are keeping tabs, notably Barcelona, which is where Gabriel and his family are said to have spent their summer.
Gabriel was due to become the youngest-ever United first-team player this week, with the initial plan having been to play him against Brighton in the Carabao Cup. However, given the recent developments, that almost certainly won’t happen now, with the player-to-club relationship potentially beyond repair.