Paul Pogba, United’s big hope for the future is tipped to leave for Juventus- so who are the next hot prospects United fans get excited about?
Ravel Morrison also left to sign for West Ham in January, while Ezekiel Fryers is still mulling over a new contract. United will hope they have better luck persuading these seven stars to stay at Old Trafford…
Ryan Tunnicliffe
Tunnicliffe, along with Pogba and Morrison, was part of United’s FA Youth Cup winning side last season, and has spent much of the season on-loan at Peterborough before returning last month. As a Manchester born lad, the club will be confident he is not swayed elsewhere. He is a box-to-box midfielder who won the youth team’s player of the year award last season, but a step up to the first team may be a season away. Ferguson will likely loan the 19-year-old out again next season, potentially to another Premier League club.
Jack Barmby
Name sound familiar? That would be because he is the son of former England international Nick Barmby. He is a winger and regular goalscorer at youth team level. He has a fine record of scoring in every round of this season’s FA Youth Cup, taking the team to this year’s semi-finals, most recently netting in the 3-2 win over Charlton.
Robbie Brady
Brady has been on loan at Hull City this season and was recently awarded the Republic of Ireland’s under-21 player of the year award. The winger’s loan spell has gone well, and he will return to the first team this summer and likely join them on their tour of America. After this he will be assessed, and could even play a part for United next season, or he will be loaned out to a Premier League side.
Jesse Lingard
English-born Jesse Lingard is hotly tipped to be one of United’s next stars, and was handed a first team squad number earlier this season. The attacking midfielder was praised in a recent interview by striker Danny Welbeck who says he is sure he will break through. He has an eye for goal and will not be afraid to shoot if he gets his chance. His preferred position is just behind the striker and the 19-year-old is an exciting prospect.
Mats Daehli
Daehli is highly regarded in his homeland Norway and signed his first professional contract with United earlier this week on his 17th birthday. The midfielder has been described by United legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as ‘on a par with the best European talents in his age group.’ He has plenty of years ahead to develop, but is a bright hope for United fans.
Larnell Cole
Attacking midfielder Larnell Cole made his debut in the Carling Cup earlier this season and was another to earn the praise of Danny Welbeck recently. The speedy right-winger may not be the tallest, but he has the ability to cause problems for defences at any level. He is clearly on the fringes of the first team, and may be another who is considered for a loan next season, and is a part of the England under-19 squad. The 18-year-old’s first team squad number is 52.
Will Keane
Striker Will Keane surely has a big future at Old Trafford. The 19-year-old made his Premier League debut on New Year’s Eve, thrown on as United searched for an equaliser in a 3-2 defeat to Blackburn. When Michael Owen and Dimitar Berbatov are surely moved on in the summer, Keane will move up the pecking order and could see more chance come his way. He has also been called into the England under-21 side and has a solid goalscoring record at youth and reserve level- scoring a hat-trick against Chelsea in the Youth Cup last year, while his twin brother Michael Keane is a defender at the club who also has a good shout of making it.
Will any of these players become stars at United? What do fans think about Pogba leaving?
image: © gordonflood.com
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