However, the club has gotten so bad when it comes to offloading players for a sizeable fee that only a few first-team stars ended up leaving, forcing the club to sell plenty of academy products.

United ended up offloading academy graduates like Anthony Elanga, Matej Kovar, Dean Henderson, and Marc Jurado in the summer just to name a few.

Forson’s breakthrough season

However, this does not imply the manager does not trust the academy as he has already given the likes of Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo their breakthroughs last season.

One player whom the manager seems to like, as evidenced from pre-season, is Omari Forson. The 19-year-old was extensively used during pre-season with the manager wanting a left-footed profile on the right wing.

The teen sensation can also play on the other wing and even as the attacking midfielder, with versatility a trait Ten Hag loves in his players.

The England U20 international has shone for the academy side, scoring seven goals in eight games across all competitions while also registering a couple of assists.

His red-hot form for the reserves has seen Ten Hag select him in the matchday squad for two Champions League games, the away games against Bayern Munich and Copenhagen.

The winger was attracting plenty of interest from Premier League sides as well as other European clubs with his United contract expiring next summer. There were even reports of a breakdown in negotiations between the parties.

Set to sign new contract

Now as per The Manchester Evening News, United are hopeful of agreeing a new deal with the youngster before the start of the new year so as to block the player from agreeing a pre-agreement with any other club.

“Manchester United youngster Omari Forson is set to sign a new contract at the club. Forson’s contract with United expires at the end of the season, but the Manchester Evening News understands he’s set to sign a new deal in recognition of his progression.

“Forson, who is yet to make his first-team debut, will be free to negotiate a pre-contract agreement with overseas clubs in January, which means he’s set to sign his new contract at United before the New Year.”

The report also mentions that Forson is a regular during first-team training sessions and is highly regarded among the United coaching staff with the coaches feeling “he’ll be the next academy product to be handed his senior debut.”

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The 17 year old has started the season impressively with five goals to his name in all competitions.

A regular starter for United’s u19s in the UEFA Youth League, Wheatley has been splitting his time in the league between the u18s and u21s.

Manchester World said they have been told “talks are at an advanced stage, although no announcement is expected to be confirmed this side of Christmas.”

It is also reported that the young forward “has attracted tentative interest from elsewhere but is happy at United and has no plans to look for a move elsewhere.”

A centre forward by trade, Wheatley often towers over his teammates and opposition but does not model his game around his size.

Despite good hold up play, he is not a simple target man but rather enjoys running the channels and drifting wide to utilise the space.

With a decent technical standard, Wheatley often keeps it simple but smart with his passing and his dribbling is effective while looking unorthodox due to his wiry frame.

Starting the season in fine form, the striker topped the scoring charts at the prodigious Otten Cup in the summer with 5 goals.

His scoring rate has continued into the season with an incredible record of a goal every 100 minutes, which includes the below sensational run against Reading’s u18s.

What a goal from Ethan Wheatley! #MUFC #MUAcademy pic.twitter.com/Nl3urnPpfi

— Manchester United Academy (@RedYouthUnited) September 2, 2023

With United keen to tie him down, it would not be surprising to see him promoted to the u21s full time come the turn of the new year.

He is not the only academy star set for a new contract though, as Manchester World also report that the club are looking to offer Omari Forson a new long term deal after he impressed Erik Ten Hag in pre-season.

The post Ethan Wheatley close to signing first pro deal at Manchester United appeared first on Man United News And Transfer News | The Peoples Person.

Last month, The Peoples Person covered a report which stated that United were in talks with Forson and his representatives over a new deal to extend his stay at Old Trafford.

The player’s current terms expire at the end of the season, hence why the Red Devils are pushing to tie him down to a new deal in an effort to ward off interested parties.

According to The Mirror, Forson is regarded as one of the club’s best prospects and there is a belief that he is on course to break into the first team set-up.

A versatile forward, Forson was part of United’s travelling party for the pre-season tour.

He started during the team’s clash against Borussia Dortmund but was taken off by Erik ten Hag before the break after getting involved in an altercation with Karim Adeyemi which saw the Carrington academy graduate receive a booking.

Forson was part of United’s matchday squad for the Champions League game against Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena on September 20.

The Mirror adds that Ten Hag’s side are “desperate” to keep the talented 19-year-old.

In the event that the club fails to reach an agreement with Forson over a new and improved contract, he will be able to leave for nothing, putting United at risk of losing out on huge sums.

It’s understood that there is plenty of interest from abroad in the Englishman.

Forson also has admirers from within the Premier League. His progress on the pitch as well as his uncertain contractual situation are being closely monitored by rival teams.

Forson is flying this season. He has plundered an impressive seven goals and two assists for the U-23s across all competitions, including three goals and one assist in four matches in Premier League 2 alone.

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The home side continued some familiar faces for United youth followers with former u21s manager Neil Wood leading the charge for the Class of 92 club and on the pitch Kelly N’Mai and Jacob Lara have both appeared in the red of United in the past year on trials.

Both sides exchanged corners early on but it was United who took advantage when Willy Kambwala’s header was spilled, allowing Kobbie Mainoo to flick to Shola Shoretire to dispatch through the crowd to give United an early lead.

United were producing some enigmatic football in the middle of the park which Salford couldn’t keep up with, drawing a number of fouls at the edge of the box but United could not capitalise.

In the 24th minute, Salford hit on the counter against the run of play to level the score with Willy Kambwala backing off from Conor McAleny until the forward struck from 25 yards into the bottom right corner.

Just three minutes later and it was an episode of deja vu. A sloppy pass from Toby Collyer in the midfield kickstarted the counter for Salford and again Kambwala was left jockeying too far back, allowing a clear run for Matty Lund to the edge of the box to place into the bottom right corner again to give Salford the lead.

United continued to dominate possession for the rest of the half but were unable to equalise before the break.

The young Reds came out after the restart on fire though and pulled it level within a minute. Fabulous hold up play from Mainoo at the edge of the box allowed the midfielder to turn and lay off to Omari Forson who’s shot was deflected past the keeper.

A minute later, Mainoo weaved through the Salford backline before being taken down in the box but his protests were waved away as Shoretire’s low placed effort was parried out of danger by the Salford keeper.

United then retook the lead in the 51st minute as Dan Gore was taken out while taking the ball on the turn inside the box but it didn’t matter as Shoretire was on hand to strike home with his weaker foot.

United continued to dominate proceedings into the closing stages with Gore, Mainoo, Shoretire, and Forson combining throughout with fluid attractive football but they could not extend their lead.

The youngsters would rue their lack of killer instinct in the 86th minute, when Salford were awarded a penalty after a cross cannoned off the hand of Ethan Ennis. Lund dispatched to draw it all level.

Into the dying minutes of injury time, Salford were awarded another soft penalty when Rhys Bennett challenged for a cross in the centre of the box and was adjudged to have fouled the Salford attacker. Lund stepped up to score again to complete his hattrick and earn the home side a 4-3 win.

A disappointing end to what was a fabulous night of football, unfortunately the result sees United crash out of the EFL Trophy at the group stage.

United: Harrison, Nolan, Kambwala, Bennett, Murray (Mejia 88), Collyer (Ennis 67), Gore, Mainoo, Forson (Huddlestone 82), Hugill, Shoretire

Unused subs: Wooster, Aljofree, Hansen-Aaroen, Mather

The post Academy Match Report: Salford City 4-3 Manchester United u21s appeared first on Man United News And Transfer News | The Peoples Person.

United are set to host City at Old Trafford for the 191st edition of the Manchester derby.

The Red Devils will be looking to extend their current three-game winning run by getting one over Pep Guardiola’s men.

Meanwhile, the Premier League champions will undoubtedly be keen to close the distance between themselves and table-topping Tottenham Hotspur who are flying under Ange Postecoglou.

Fernandes spoke to club media and said, “Obviously, City is going to be a big, big game. Everyone knows the rivalry between Man City and Man United. Obviously, we want to win that game because we know how much it means for the fans, how much it means for the club.”

“We have experienced that last season, and the home game was amazing, the atmosphere was really good.”

The Portuguese playmaker opened up on his time so far at United and mentioned that he is enjoying his time in England.

Fernandes explained that he has notched up plenty of experience from previous spells in the Primeira Liga and Serie A – knowledge he is always willing to share with the youngsters.

In particular, the club skipper noted that he has held conversations with Omari Forson regarding how to improve the 19-year-old’s technique in front of goal.

Fernandes remarked, “Obviously, for me it was good to play in different leagues [and get] experience in Italy, experience in Portugal. Now being in England, it’s really good because you experience different ways to think, different ways to play.”

“And I always try to get the mix of that together and obviously all that I have, all that I’ve learned within Italy. The other day, I was talking with Omari [Forson] before the break when we do the shooting practice, and I was telling him: ‘Look, [Antonio] Di Natale was always telling me this, when you’re in certain positions, short steps, the way you kick the ball, everything.”

“And I said to him: ‘Obviously with me it works. You have to try to find your way. But if these small things that I tell you are going to help you, I’m going to be happy. If not, you have to find a way that’s going to fit you.”

This season, Fernandes has managed two goals and three assists for United across all competitions.

During a campaign in which Erik ten Hag’s side have somewhat struggled to get going, the team will need their captain to come up with the goods more often. What better way to lay down a marker than by beating City at Old Trafford?

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The visitors looked the liveliest from the start and Emil Hojlund tested early with a header straight into Tom Wooster’s arms.

United then had a big chance when James Nolan played the ball into the right channel for Ethan Wheatley who knocked the ball past the keeper but tripped himself up before he could get his shot off at the open net.

The young Reds began working their way into the match and Omari Forson showed a bit of magic to evade the tackle at the edge of the box before having his shot saved from 20 yards out.

More chances came for United with Forson playing provider with a cross to the back post that was knocked down by Ethan Williams for James Scanlon to head over the bar.

Dan Gore then got into the action with a perfectly clipped ball over the Copenhagen defenders for Forson to head at full stretch but United again failed to hit the target.

Kobbie Mainoo tried his luck late on with a long-range attempt but dragged the effort wide left.

It went into the break level at 0-0 after a tightly contested 45 minutes.

Jayce Fitzgerald entered at the break for Mainoo and almost made an immediate impact, plucking the ball out of the sky for a drilled volley that was denied by a top save.

A much quieter second half, it wasn’t until the 84th minute that the deadlock was broken when Tryphose Thcicamboud was allowed to run freely into the United box and slot into the far corner past Wooster.

United then tried to bombard the Copenhagen box in the dying minutes but ultimately couldn’t carve out a clear chance, leaving the score at 0-1 at the final whistle.

United remain on three points alongside Bayern Munich and Galatasaray with FC Copenhagen stretching their lead at the top with nine points.

United: Wooster, Missin (Jackson 75), Nolan, Kambwala, Kingdon (Musa 87), Williams, Mainoo (Fitzgerald 46), Gore, Forson, Scanlon (Lacey 69), Wheatley

Unused subs: Myles, McAllister, Curley

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The Daily Mail’s Chris Wheeler reports that United are actively making efforts to keep Forson at Old Trafford and prevent any interested parties from possibly swooping in for him.

His current contract expires next summer, hence the Red Devils’ urgency to resolve the situation.

Forson played for the United senior team during the United States pre-season tour.

He started the game against Borussia Dortmund but was taken off within the opening 45 minutes after getting into an altercation with Karim Adeyemi that saw him receive a yellow card.

Visibly frustrated with Ten Hag’s decision to end his participation in the match, Forson had to be consoled by his manager who offered his reasons for substituting him.

He has impressed this season and is averaging a goal every 78 minutes in the UEFA Youth League.

The 19-year-old found the back of the net on two occasions against Galatasaray. Forson was a surprise inclusion in the matchday squad during United’s opening game of Group A against Bayern Munich.

It’s clear Ten Hag sees potential in him, especially considering United’s struggles on the right-wing and with the manager preferring a left-footed profile.

The Dutch coach, of course, made it clear that only the best talents at the club will get opportunities under him.

This summer, he sanctioned the exits of multiple academy stars including Zidane Iqbal, Teden Mengi, Ethan Laird and Noam Emeran just to mention a few.

It’s clear that Forson has a part to play in Ten Hag’s plans further down the line. During pre-season, he found himself on the right flank – an area of the pitch United have struggled to fill this season.

Forson can also play on the left wing and midfield – such is his versatility.

He was recently named in the England elite development squad (formerly U-20s). He is in contention to play a part in matches against Romania and Portugal during the ongoing October international break.

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A move from the training ground started off the match as United sent the ball into the right corner of the pitch from the kick-off for Ethan Williams to chase and deliver to Harry Amass at the back post to volley into the ground and hit the side netting.

Ethan Wheatley had a penalty shout early on when drove into the box from the right wing and went down under some very slight contact but the ref waved away his protests.

Galatasaray threatened just before the half-hour mark. James Nolan misjudged the bounce of the ball to allow the Galatasaray winger to the byline to fire across the goal but Elyh Harrison was able to push the ball to safety.

A final chance came for United before the break through a deftly chipped ball over the top from Jack Kingdon for Ethan Wheatley to run onto but the striker couldn’t sort his feet out quick enough to get the shot off.

It remained 0-0 at the break after a largely dull but even opening 45 minutes.

Ten minutes after the restart, Omari Forson burst through the middle of the pitch past a group of Galatasaray players to break into the box but was denied from breaking the deadlock with a top save from Jankat Yilmaz.

United were starting to take control though and the relentless pressure proved too much in the 65th minute when Nolan was tripped in the box to earn a penalty which was calmly dispatched into the bottom corner by Forson.

It was all United in the latter stages and some quality team play down the left wing and into the box ended with a clever rolled pass by Forson to find Ethan Williams to hammer past the keeper to make it 2-0.

Shea Lacey had made a big impact off the bench to assert United’s dominance and he provided the third to put the game to bet with an inch-perfect through ball to take the Galatasaray defenders out of the game and allow Forson to run through and score his second of the day.

The win gave United their first points after a narrow defeat last time out against Bayern Munich. Next up is a doubleheader with a very strong FC Copenhagen side who currently lead the group and are led by Rasmus Hojlund’s younger brother, Emil.

United: Harrison; Nolan, Kingdon, Kambwala, Amass (Missin 56), Fitzgerald (Curley 64), Gore, Forson, Scanlon (Lacey 64), Williams; Wheatley (Musa 88)

Unused subs: Myles, Jackson, McAllister

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United took an early lead just after the 10th minute when Shola Shoretire played the ball down the right channel for Mateo Mejia to race in behind his man and fire low across the box which the Blackburn skipper, Patrick Gamble, could only turn into his own goal.

A loose pass from the Blackburn keeper then almost opened the chance for Dan Gore to add to United’s lead but the midfielder, who enjoyed a senior debut just days ago, rattled the crossbar from 20 yards out.

United’s high press was proving fruitful as yet again the Blackburn keeper’s clearance went straight to United as Omari Forson picked up the wayward ball and played it infield, which ended in Shoretire being denied by the woodwork as well.

Blackburn equalised in the 36th minute with a beautifully taken goal chipped over the outrushing Radek Vitek and into the top corner.

But it wasn’t level for long, Gore’s ball into the corner was picked up by Jack Kingdon, who laid back to Shoretire to race into the box and finish into the bottom corner.

It looked like United would hold the lead into the break but in the dying seconds and easy cross to claim for Vitek slipped out of the Czech keeper’s hands and fell to Tom Atcheson for an easy goal to make it 2-2 at the half.

Into the second half, Gore continued to show why he has impressed Erik ten Hag with a sensational goal, running through midfield before expertly dodging a challenge in the box and hitting the back of the net.

Expertly taken goal by Dan Gore for #MUFC u21s today pic.twitter.com/h6NVf29MiL

— Manchester United Academy (@RedYouthUnited) September 30, 2023

United added a fourth in the 75th minute, Ethan Williams’ corner was cleared to the edge of the area for Forson to run onto and thunder an unstoppable strike past the keeper.

United’s impressive performance was rounded off by Joe Hugill dispatching from the spot after Mateo Mejia was taken down in the box.

A good result to bounce back after the 8-1 defeat to Bolton Wanderers, but another two goals conceded brings United to 17 goals against after just six league matches and u21s development phase coach David Hughes believes there are many lessons to be learnt.

“Lots of learning, we had some really good positives in the first half hour and last half an hour of the game. There was a little bit, 15 minutes before half time and 15 minutes after where we needed to be a little more resolute and difficult to play against,” he said.

United: Vitek, Kingdon, Aljofree, Bennett (Kambwala 63), Murray (Williams 63), Oyedele (Collyer 63), Gore, Mejia, Shoretire (Scanlon 84), Forson, Hugill

Unused subs: Mee

The post Academy Match report: Blackburn Rovers u21s 2-5 Manchester United u21s appeared first on Man United News And Transfer News | The Peoples Person.

United started brightly in the opening minutes with captain Shola Shoretire spreading the play with a nice diagonal pass to Mateo Mejia on the right wing who laid off the Ethan Williams to strike from 20 yards straight into the arms of the keeper.

The next 15 minutes minutes looked like the match was shaping up to be an even affair with both sides unable to breakthrough some resolute defending.

But the deadlock was suddenly broken in the 19th minute through Bolton’s first real chance of the match. Josh Sheehan skipped past Ethan Williams on the right wing far too easily and crossed to Dan N’Lundulu to finish past Radek Vitek.

This marked the opening of the floodgates and three minutes later Bolton added their second. Sheehan was the key danger man again as he dribbled into the box through the middle of Sonny Aljofree and Omari Forson, who both looked afraid to put a challenge in, and slotted into the bottom right corner.

United looked to respond with Maxi Oyedele providing some energy in midfield to win possession and quickly playing through Mateo Mejia on the right but the delivery into the box was poor.

In the 29th minute, a quick free kick at the back launched a counter attack for United with 16 year old James Scanlon expertly taking the ball on the turn in midfield to evade the challenge and charge up field before laying to Joe Hugill who crossed to Mejia at the back post but the Colombian moved too early and strayed offside.

In the 35th minute, Vitek made a pair of impressive back to back saves to deny Sheehan and Aaron Morley but a minute later he couldn’t punch his clearance from a corner far enough and Mejia’s poor follow up attempt meant the ball fell to Sheehan to strike superbly into the top right corner from outside the box.

It was becoming too easy for Bolton and they added their 4th before the break, a cross into the box from the left found Gethin Jones in acres of space as United stood and watched for the Bolton skipper to hit the back of the net.

United almost pulled ones back moments before the half time whistle when Oyedele threaded the needle to put Williams into the box, who struck hard and low, but a strong wrist from Nathan Baxter denied the effort.

The second half continued as the first ended with N’Lundulu quickly scoring his second of the match.

Bolton then added their sixth through Icelandic international striker Jón Daði Böðvarsson striking off the crossbar and in.

United were able to pull one back in the 67th minute, a quick free kick saw Forson play a give and go with Williams before running into the box and finishing low into the right corner.

But it was much too little too late and Bolton added a further two goals with the final goal of the match scored by Luke Matheson, the 20 year old defender who famously scored at Old Trafford at just 16 to bring it to penalties for Rochdale in the EFL Cup.

Despite the heavy defeat, United still stand a chance of advancing to the next stage if they can defeat Salford City in their final group match at the end of October.

United: Vitek, Kambwala, Bennett (Murray 46), Aljofree, Forson, Oyedele, Shoretire, Mejia (Nolan 46), Scanlon (Wheatley 65), Williams (McAllister 78), Hugill

Unused subs: Harrison, Kingdon

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