Photo by Manchester United/Manchester United via Getty Images
Photo by Manchester United/Manchester United via Getty Images
Manchester United are about to complete a massive coup by locking Noah Ajayi down to a professional contract at the club amid lots of Bundesliga interest.
While there are plenty of exciting talents at Manchester United right now, it is arguable that Noah Ajayi is the most electric of the wonderkids in an attacking area. Despite being considered a U18 player right now, Ajayi bounced back from injury with a goal last weekend that showed how he was above that level.
United staff think Ajayi is sensational, and every time you watch him play, he backs up that thinking. This makes the report from SullyTalkz that Ajayi is set to sign a professional deal with United all the more exciting.
The contract should now see Ajayi given special treatment at Old Trafford, fast-tracked into the U21s, and also in the coming weeks or months, earning himself a chance in the first-team. In his chances of doing this, Ajayi holds an advantage over his rivals.
Noah Ajayi playing for Man Utd u18s
Photo by Poppy Townson – MUFC/Manchester United via Getty Images
Noah Ajayi is Manchester United’s most first-team-ready attacking prospect
Much has been made of losing JJ Gabriel, as the 15-year-old aims for a move to Barcelona. But the size of the kid didn’t suggest that he would be ready for the physical demands of Premier League football.
However, for Ajayi, this might not be an issue. In comparison to Gabriel and other academy forwards, Ajayi already has the physical size, explosiveness, and quality to offer a solution and option to Michael Carrick this season.
Standing at approximately 6ft 2in tall, Ajayi is tall enough to hold his own, with the technical ability to be a serious threat in and around the box. One notable strength of Ajayi is how direct he is.
Ajayi gets the ball, and he intends to run at his defender, either beat him, win a foul, or force an error where he can unleash a shot or create for someone else. Ajayi is almost a mix between Marcus Rashford and Morgan Rogers in his traits, ability, and size.
It is, however, his size and physicality that make him the most natural senior player currently in the academy, and should have also had him ahead of Gabriel in the pecking order.
Noah Ajayi might even get his first opportunity on loan
Ideally, Ajayi would start getting senior minutes at United this season. If this isn’t going to happen, then Ajayi might actually be lined up for a loan this summer.
Before committing to United, Ajayi was wanted by several Bundesliga sides, including Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen. But now he might still be Bundesliga-bound, only on a loan.
This is because on transfer deadline day, it was reported that Ajayi was being eyed up for a loan in the winter by Augsburg, who currently sit fourth in the Bundesliga this season.
If they wanted Ajayi on loan, it could see his development massively accelerated thanks to senior minutes in a top league. But if not, United should be planning his integration anyway this season.