Manchester United set to sign two Premier League wonderkids
Manchester United are set to sign two Premier League wonderkids as their academy overhaul continues.
United switched their focus to signing the best domestic talent available to them after Brexit regulations made it impossible to sign players aged under 18 from Europe. They are also focusing on homegrown youngsters due to strict financial fair play restraints which have led to an emphasis on identifying elite talent as early as possible in order to save money.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdThey have already secured the additions of Ipswich Town striker Silva Mexes, who is the son of Wales great Robert Earnshaw, James Overy after his family left Australia for England, and Aston Villa defender Dante Plunkett after a successful trial period with the club.
It now looks like they are set to step up their recruitment drive to an even higher level with Arsenal wonderkid Chido Obi Martin and Crystal Palace starlet Samuel Lusale both set to sign deals at Old Trafford.
Obi-Martin, 16, is a free agent after he rejected a new deal at Arsenal and has received numerous offers after an incredible season in which he scored 29 goals in 17 league matches for the U18s last season and trained with the first-team. United will sign Obi-Martin to a scholarship agreement with a pre-pro agreement, before switching to a professional contract upon reaching his 17th birthday in November.
Lusale, 16, is also set to move to United after he turned down a scholarship offer from Palace. The teenage winger featured ten times for the U18s last term and represented Slovakia at the Under-17 European Championship in Cyprus.
Comment Guidelines
National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.