Photo by Manchester United/Manchester United via Getty Images
Photo by Manchester United/Manchester United via Getty Images
Manchester United’s academy hasn’t been so packed with talent for years. Even with the impending departure of JJ Gabriel, there are 10 huge talents with the potential to become first-team players in the near future.
A lot has been made of Manchester United losing JJ Gabriel, with the 15-year-old’s entourage set to move him to Spain, with both Barcelona and Real Madrid in talks over the generational talent. Gabriel’s departure will hit the club when he is world-class in a few years, but it is not a crisis.
United have a really strong academy, packed with some of the finest prospects in the country. So here are the 10 most exciting prospects United have right now, following the coming exit of Gabriel, limited to those without senior experience.
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10. Karim Cassim
Karim Cassim is the new boy at United, only announced this week as a new signing from Manchester City, but his reputation precedes him. Cassim is one of the best midfielders in his age category for England, and his signing is a real coup.
Cassim is just 17, but arrives as a unique profile thanks to his size and physical strength. He might even have the perfect senior mentor in Carlos Baleba. It will be really exciting to see how he fits in, and he could skyrocket up this list in the next 12 months as United sees him as first-team potential.
9. Edson DeJonge-Seiros
In at number nine is Edson DeJonge-Seiros, who is currently taking the U18 Premier League by storm with four goals in his last three games at the time of writing. DeJonge-Seiros is an electric winger with physical qualities that suggest he could soon be fast-tracked.
DeJonge-Seiros has been at United since he was a child and looks set to become the key man for the U18s this season. Another who could end up making serious waves over the course of this season.
8. Jaice Dore
Jaice Dore is only in number eight because of his age and having not played at a high enough age just yet to overtake others, but he is a sensational young footballer with all the talent and potential to take Gabriel’s role for United in the next season or two.
READ:Who is Jaice Dore? Man Utd whizkid following in JJ Gabriel’s footsteps
Dore is an exciting dribbler, so technical, and can both score and assist. Hopefully, he is in line for a promotion to the U18s this season to really see where his true level is right now.
7. Amir Ibragimov
Amir Ibragimov comes in at seventh, which is a fragile placing right now. Ibragimov has long been among United’s best, but injuries and no consistency in the position he is playing have meant he has struggled slightly to really kick on or get first-team chances with United.
Despite all of this, Ibragimov is currently shining as a striker for United, after also excelling in midfield last season. He is a brilliant footballer; if he stays fit and United find his best position, there is no telling how successful he might be.
6. Cristian Orozco
Having just arrived in the summer, Cristian Orozco is already impressing, and his early performances suggest he is a far better youth signing than Diego Leon and Sekou Kone were in previous years. Orozco is a mature midfielder, and he doesn’t have to adapt physically, as that side of his game is already top drawer.
He faces a lot of competition, but Orozco is undoubtedly a huge talent, and as he settles into living in England and the pace of football in this country, he is only going to improve over the course of this season.
5. Tynan Thompson
Another recent addition is Tynan Thompson, and the winger has had a strong start for the U21s this season, with three assists in just two games for United at that level. Thompson arrived from Tottenham for £4m, which sets a level of expectation.
Thompson looks like a top prospect with creativity, goal scoring, and dribbling all in his bag. United will likely be keen for Thompson to get first-team exposure as soon as he proves worthy, which might not be too far away.
4. Godwill Kukonki
Into the top four, Godwill Kukonki remains a massive talent for United, and it is actually surprising that he is yet to make strides into the first-team. After concerns over his future, Kukonki seems set to commit to United.
Kukonki could find himself quite quickly in the senior plans at United this season, given the left-back conundrum currently at the club for Carrick.
3. Jayden Ngwashi
One of the biggest talents in the academy right now is Jayden Ngwashi, with the centre-back having every quality to be a generational defender if he manages to put it all together. Ngwashi has bounced back this season from injury, looking better than ever for the U18s.
Ngwashi has the world at his feet, and he could quickly end up topping this list if he stays injury-free and gets the correct development and opportunities at United. One to be very excited by and to expect first-team exposure by the end of this current season, all being well.
2. Noah Ajayi
In second, we have Noah Ajayi. United’s German wing prodigy, who is set to pen a professional contract at the club to tie his future down at Old Trafford long-term. While still being with the U18s right now due to injury over the summer, Ajayi is ready for senior football in terms of his physical traits and also his style.
Ajayi is no-nonsense, direct, and has the ability to score a variety of goals from left-wing, both composed finishes and also powerful strikes from outside the box. A mercurial talent that we expect to see on the verge of United’s first-team this season.
1. Jim Thwaites
At the top of the ranks at Manchester United right now is Jim Thwaites, with the 18-year-old a midfielder who has the potential to be one of the best in the Premier League with the right tutelage and guidance.
Thwaites is already as good technically as the best in the Premier League, and it feels like Michael Carrick is preparing him for a breakout in the coming months. Physicality is the only thing that might hold Thwaites back, but as of now, he is the most exciting wonderkid at the club.