EFL offers for Man Utd man unveiled but Red Devils reject advances amid Ruben Amorim plan

Ruben Amorim understands Manchester United might need to sell academy graduatesRuben Amorim understands Manchester United might need to sell academy graduates
Ruben Amorim understands Manchester United might need to sell academy graduates | Manchester United via Getty Images
Man Utd sanctioned a number of loan exits this month but not every offer was entertained

Manchester United have sent a number of their young prospects out on loan as the Red Devils hope to see their players get senior experience across the EFL.

During the window, Joe Hugill made the move to Carlisle United while Ethan Williams joined Cheltenham Town. There was an exciting move for Ethan Wheatley who agreed a move to runaway League Two leaders Walsall. Ethan Ennis is now at Doncaster Rovers with Jack Kingdon joining Rochdale while Dan Gore completed a move to Rotherham United. Tranmere Rovers agreed two loans with United as Louis Jackson and Sam Mather headed to Merseyside.

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However, the Red Devils have only been keen to accept deals they feel will provide the right environment for their academy prospects. Those who have been sent out would not have been given a chance in the first team before the end of the season.

United reject Harrison approaches

One player who was not allowed to leave on loan was goalkeeper Elyh Harrison. According to BBC Sport, United rebuffed interest from League One and League Two clubs with the plan to keep the 18-year-old at Old Trafford for the remainder of the season. He was on the bench as United lost 2-0 to Crystal Palace on Sunday with Ruben Amorim signalling his plan to keep him around the senior squad.

Earlier in the window, United had recalled Harrison from a loan spell with National League side Chester. A club statement read in January: “The recall clause in Harrison's loan agreement with National League North side Chester has been activated, ending his temporary stint at the Deva Stadium. The reigning Denzil Haroun Reserve-Team Player of the Year headed out to gain first-team experience after a stellar 2023/24 campaign for the Academy sides, helping the Under-18s to win the national title Premier League Cup.

“Harrison was the only second goalkeeper to win the aforementioned award since its 1990 introduction, and the youngest recipient since Adnan Januzaj in 2013. Elyh, who turns 19 in February, joined United from Stevenage three years ago and has developed well since, continuing to represent England’s youth sides.”

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United fail to secure deadline day signings

There was no deadline day arrivals for United as Amorim will now go with the players he has for the remainder of the season. Ahead of deadline day, Amorim said: “We have to improve as a team to score goals, and we are trying the best to improve the team.

“This market is really hard on the clubs, to make some deals here, it’s hard. Then you have this urgency, sometimes when you are in this moment, you make some mistakes, we are trying everything. We want so bad to improve, I want so bad to improve the team, I know what the team needs, but sometimes it’s possible or not, but we are trying everything."

He added: "Like I said, when the window has closed, we will see the players, I am focused to improve the team as a group. We need to win more games, we will try to do that, this season is like that. We need to win, small improvements, try to win points, give winning momentum, then we have setbacks and then we go again. But I think it’s clear that we need to improve."

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