'Done deal' - Man Utd confirm exciting loan move as Newcastle United 'agree fee' for 222-appearance star

Mat Sadler, Manager of Walsall, applauds the fans after the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Southampton and Walsall at St Mary's Stadium on January 06, 2024 in Southampton, England. Mat Sadler, Manager of Walsall, applauds the fans after the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Southampton and Walsall at St Mary's Stadium on January 06, 2024 in Southampton, England.
Mat Sadler, Manager of Walsall, applauds the fans after the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Southampton and Walsall at St Mary's Stadium on January 06, 2024 in Southampton, England. | Getty Images
Manchester United have agreed an exciting loan move for one of their young stars

Manchester United have confirmed that young striker Ethan Wheatley has joined runaway League Two leaders Walsall until the end of the season.

Wheatley was one of a clutch of four Red Devils stars tipped for a loan move this month as United look to get experience for their academy stars. Wheatley joins Walsall at an exciting time for the club, with the midlands outfit a stunning 12 points clear at the top of League Two with a game in hand, at the time of writing.

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A club statement read: “Young Manchester United striker Ethan Wheatley has joined League Two leaders Walsall on loan for the remainder of the 2024/25 season. Ethan became United’s landmark 250th Academy graduate after earning his senior debut last April in a home Premier League match against Sheffield United. He has made a further three first-team appearances since, also travelling on Tour 2024.

“Wheatley’s Old Trafford bow came after a successful few months with the club’s Under-18s, who lifted three trophies in as many weeks last spring. Ethan scored a double in the U18 Premier League Cup Final, eight goals in seven games in the league campaign at that age group, and the opening goal of the national league final at Stamford Bridge.”

Wheatley raring to go

“It is my first loan so I am very excited to get going,” Wheatley told the Walsall club website. “The club is currently top of the league so I am coming into a winning environment and I am looking forward to that and hopefully we can kick on for the rest of the season and I can help the team to do good things.

“I had interest from other places but they didn’t have as many games left in the season and a big thing for me is earning game time and trying to play as much as possible in the men's game and hopefully I can do that and stamp my mark and impress. Manchester United set us up for work experience loans previously where we would go to different clubs for a week at a time so I have had a fair few experiences of being round a first team environment now so I am looking forward to settling into this one and hopefully doing well.”

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Newcastle to sell £21m signing

The Red Devils’ Premier League rivals Newcastle United have agreed a £10m fee with Atlanta United for the sale of Miguel Almiron. That is according to the Shields Gazette, who report the player is now set for a return to Atlanta having joined Newcastle from the MLS side for £21m in 2019. He has made 222 appearances and scored 30 goals for Newcastle in that time. Although a fee has been agreed between the clubs, Almiron has yet to agree on personal terms.

“I think Miggy's head has been very, very solidly here,” Magpies boss Eddie Howe said last week when question on Almiron’s future. “He's been brilliant in training this week. I've seen not one moment where I thought, ‘Oh, I need to address this or speak to him or have a deeper conversation’.

“I think we're both aware of the situation. Yes, there is interest in him from other clubs. There is, potentially, a chance he could leave before the window, but until that moment and if that moment never arrives, he's still a valuable member of the squad. We love him to bits. He's got a great energy and character that's never changed for a second. He's been the ultimate professional and let's see what happens.”

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