Man Utd told new transfer strategy is having a "major effect" on the club as 88-year tradition could be at risk
Man United have seen several academy players leave the club in a new approach to transfers.
Manchester United had a relatively successful transfer window this summer as they managed to address some key positional needs by adding attackers such as Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko, but also improved at the goalkeeper spot too by signing Senne Lammens.
Much of the transfer window was spent offloading several players who featured in Ruben Amorim’s ‘bomb squad’. Marcus Rashford left to join Barcelona, Alejandro Garnacho joined Chelsea, Jadon Sancho joined Aston Villa, and Antony left for Real Betis, to name a few.
Two of those names are United academy products (Rashford and Garnacho), helping to generate ‘pure profit’ with regards to PSR, something that United are seemingly prioritising more and more.
Sheringham says United transfer strategy is having a “major effect”
Rashford and Garnacho were sold, but United are clearly not prioritising their academy players like they used to, as Kobbie Mainoo has also struggled for regular game time, despite his high potential.
Former United striker Teddy Sheringham thinks that the change of strategy isn’t doing United any good, and they should go back to prioritising academy players for the benefit of both the club and their fans.
He told Manchester World: “Manchester United have been known for having young players coming through and the supporters loving the fact that they're there to promote the club, to know all the history about it.
“And you kind of carry that with you, and you wear that shirt with pride, more pride than just being a big money signing. I think the club is going away from that. And that, as well as not buying the big top players, getting rid of your young homegrown players is having a major effect on the football club.”
In Amorim’s starting XI against Chelsea over the weekend, none of the United players were academy products, and the only one who featured in the end was Mainoo, who came on as a substitute in the second half.
United have had at least one academy graduate in every first-team matchday squad dating all the way back to October 1937 a tradition that has stood for 88 years.
Which Man United academy players could break through next?
In terms of other academy products who have been getting into Amorim’s squad, Tyler Fredricson has been getting onto the bench in recent weeks. The 20-year-old central defender was one of very few United academy players to not leave on loan in the summer, suggesting that he is a part of Amorim’s plans.
The defender has made one start so far this season, which came during United’s Carabao Cup defeat to Grimsby Town. However, you would expect that the more injuries United face, the more Fredricson could feature.
Other youngster Ayden Heaven would also expect to feature more often as the season goes on; however, he is not technically a United academy player, as they bought him from Arsenal last year, although he is playing for the U21s team, potentially highlighting Sheringham’s comments on Man United changing their approach with younger players.