Man Utd have kept three highly promising youngsters in house this summer
Gabriele Biancheri has a bright future at Manchester United
Manchester United sanctioned loan exits for 10 Under-21 players this summer as a clutch of youngsters temporarily moved on in search of senior football.
The loanees cover every level from the Championship to the National League as well as moves to Scotland and Switzerland.
But it’s perhaps telling that three prospects who could have departed on loan remain in situ at United.
Gabriele Biancheri was linked with a host of clubs in the closing days of the window but has remained at Old Trafford while Sekou Kone and Shea Lacey are two other talented teenagers remaining in the Under-21 ranks.
The decision to keep the trio in house points to the three being key performers for Travis Binnion’s side this season as well as supplementing the senior training group.
All three have been involved with the first team previously and Ruben Amorim could well call upon them again as the campaign continues. United are unlikely to rotate their side too much given the light schedule with no European football and an early Carabao Cup exit, but the likes of Biancheri, Kone and Lacey could be the next cabs off the academy rank if United need to promote from within.
Lacey has showed his capabilities this week with a superb goal for the Under-21s on Wednesday and an assist in the Premier League 2 derby win over Manchester City last weekend. The 18-year-old has had injury problems but is now fit and firing and his talent is clear to see. He will likely emerge as a key player at Under-21 level this term.
The same can be said of Biancheri who was linked with a loan exit to Welsh pair Newport County and Cardiff City during the summer window. The talented forward has trained with the Wales squad and is also eligible for Canada, who have made a play for his services at international level ahead of next summer’s World Cup in North America.
For Kone, the prospect has opened up of him having a say in United’s midfield of the future.
He started for the Under-21s against Tamworth in the National League Cup last month and sustained a head injury which resulted in the game being abandoned. He has recovered but has a long way to go and has been on a steep learning curve since his arrival in England.
He has been forced to put on muscle, get up to speed with the intensity and improve his positional understanding. He did not play a single minute during the United States tour, but staff believe he could eventually contribute
The Reds have been rapidly improving at academy level and there is plenty of talent ready to take the next step.