Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP via Getty Images
Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP via Getty Images
How three Man Utd transfer windows were ruined by one player, and incompetence behind the scenes
Michael Carrick has the same problem Ole Gunnar Solskjaer faced at Man Utd
Michael Carrick has the same problem Ole Gunnar Solskjaer faced at Man Utd
Man Utd's next manager: My verdict on the 11 most likely Michael Carrick replacements at Old Trafford
Man Utd's next manager: My verdict on the 11 most likely Michael Carrick replacements at Old Trafford
Man Utd may have identified the perfect manager to turn Shea Lacey into a star
Man Utd may have identified the perfect manager to turn Shea Lacey into a star
Photo by Stefano Guidi/Getty Images
Photo by Stefano Guidi/Getty Images
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
Photo by Nigel French/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images
Photo by Nigel French/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images
Of course, results on the pitch haven’t been good enough, but there are other disappointing factors at play here – the transfer market wasn’t good enough, and, frustratingly, Michael Carrick hasn’t used United’s young stars as much as many would like.
Harry Amass has hardly been used despite some glaring issues at left-back, the Fletcher brothers haven’t been seen all season, while JJ Gabriel clearly thinks he should have been playing more (although maybe that’s a story for another day).
Shea Lacey looked a star in pre-season, but he’s played just 10 minutes of Premier League football so far this season.
Now though, United are being linked with a new manager to replace Michael Carrick who could be perfect for Lacey.
Julian Nagelsmann could be perfect for Shea Lacey
Julian Nagelsmann has again been linked with Manchester United, and there’s reason to believe he could be brilliant for Lacey’s development.
Matthijs De Ligt has previously praised Nagelsmann’s ability to work with young players.
“I was very impressed that the entire Bayern management made me feel from the very beginning that the club really wanted me. Everything just clicked. Julian Nagelsmann is also a coach who has proven that he understands how to develop young players well,” said de Ligt.
It’s not just young players Nagelsmann has worked well with, it’s specifically players in the mould of Lacey – attacking players who are technically sound and love to operate between the lines.
Three of Nagelsmann’s main success stories have been helping Jamal Musiala become a star at Bayern Munich, making Dani Olmo into a serious talent at RB Leipzig and turning Christopher Nkunku into an elite attacker at Leipzig too.
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Player Age when joining Nagelsmann Games Goals Assists
Dani Olmo 22 61 12 13
Christopher Nkunku 22 84 12 27
Jamal Musiala 18 98 32 23
Lacey is, in many ways, cut from a similar cloth as Musiala, Olmo and Nkunku, and if Nagelsmann gets his hands on him, he could well help him develop into a star.
Lacey looks like he could be headed to the top, and Nagelsmann may well be the perfect coach to help him get there.