The academy has already been strengthened this summer at Manchester United but one 16-year-old target won’t be joining.
For Manchester United, the academy is always a priority and right now the talent coming through is some of the best seen in recent times.
The link between the academy and the first team is one which has seen several of the club’s greats emerge out of Carrington to become legends of the game.
Over the past two seasons we’ve seen Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo emerge from the ranks, with both now among the first two names on the team-sheet.
The current crop of U18s have been very successful in their own right with a treble-winning campaign last season.
Manchester United miss out on Wes Okoduwa
Despite a strong start to the summer in terms of strengthening the academy, United have made multiple signings already. But now have missed out on one of the best prospects of all, Wes Okoduwa.
On Thursday it was reported that Wolves had managed to convince their 16-year-old gem to commit his short-term future to the club, rejecting Chelsea in the process according to Express and Star.
United also had an interest in signing him this summer with links throughout the latter parts of last season.
Gary O’Neil has lauded the 16-year-old as being ‘very good‘ previously and has already placed Okoduwa onto the bench for a Premier League game.
Okoduwa turning down the move means he won’t be joining the other prospects who have been snapped up by United this summer.
Who has United signed to strengthen the academy?
Missing out on Okoduwa is a blow, but the blow is lessened as United have already made some impressive moves this summer in the youth market.
16-year-old Samuel Lusale of Crystal Palace is one who the club are close to signing with the Slovakian youth international being an exciting talent.
This would be in addition to Camron Mpofu who has joined from Reading, the incredibly quick Silva Mexes from Ipswich and also Australian starlet James Overy.
Adding these exciting youngsters to the ranks means next season could be another blockbuster campaign for the academy. We can’t wait to watch it.
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