You would struggle to find an academy in world football right now with brighter prospects than Manchester United.
Kobbie Mainoo leads the charge of talented whizkids coming through, he’s already arrived as a first team regular and now England international. Willy Kambwala and Omari Forson are also pushing for more minutes.
More are set to follow, with 16-year-old Bendito Mantato impressing with a four-goal performance for the under-18s at the weekend, and making his under-21 debut days later.
Amir Ibragimov and Shea Lacey are two talents generating a lot of hype too at the early stages of their careers, and Manchester United are keen to add more into the mix.
- READ MORE: Who is Kobbie Mainoo? Inside the life of Man Utd’s rising star, including his parents, brother and school
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Manchester United eye two academy moves
Recruitment has been a strength of the Manchester United academy, and since Brexit, the club have had to focus on domestic deals.
According to The Mail, United have lined up two potential moves for young talents, who would join the ranks at Carrington.
One is most advanced, with it claimed a move for Ipswich Town youngster Silva Mexes, 14, is close to complete.
Who is Silva Mexes
Silva Mexes is a young striker who is the son of former Wales international striker Robert Earnshaw, formerly of West Bromwich Albion.
- Mexes describes himself on Instagram to be a champion sprinter at county level for Essex at 100 metre level at a junior age group. He joined Ipswich’s academy in early 2022 and is now being lined up for a bigger move, with United on track to swoop, where he would join the club’s junior ranks.
Who is Wesley Okoduwa
Wesley Okoduwa, 15, is a potential addition for Manchester United’s under-18s side. He plays as a right-back.
Okoduwa has played eight league games for Wolves under-18 side this season, and has already been called up into their under-21 side, where he has played twice.
He is so highly rated that he was named on Wolves’ first team bench for their Premier League clash with Newcastle in February.
Okoduwa also has one-cap for England at under-16s level, and while this deal is not advanced, he is a player Manchester United are hopeful of striking a deal for.
