Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has shown a willingness to be far more proactive in his attitude towards the academy.
Talented teenager Shea Lacey, 16, signed a scholarship deal on Tuesday which commits him to the club with an agreement to sign professional terms when he turns 17, while wonderkid Kobbie Mainoo signed a new contract in February.
That news comes as a boost to United given the widespread interest in the highly rated starlet Lacey's signature.
According to the Manchester Evening News, several top European sides as well as United's major rivals in England were interested in snapping him up.
His new deal is a sign of the Red Devils' commitment to tying down the best talent in their academy and the way Ten Hag is determined to help youngsters bridge the gap from the youth teams to the first team.
When he arrived last summer, the Dutchman felt the Under 21 side was 'isolated' from the senior squad.
He sought to remedy that immediately with a more hands-on approach and took personal responsibility for making it happen.
Ten Hag has held one-on-one meetings with multiple academy players, discussing his expectations if they will ever make the grade under his watch.
The 53-year-old also reportedly takes a more active role in deciding which youngsters are capable of training with the first team at Carrington training ground.
He also encourages a better and smoother flow of information between the departments, which was a key staple of his plan at Dutch side Ajax.
Ten Hag's infamous ruthless streak also means he allows academy players he doesn't think will make the first team to leave.
Zidane Iqbal (to FC Utrecht), Matej Kovar (Bayer Leverkusen), Anthony Elanga (Nottingham Forest), Nathan Bishop (Sunderland), Charlie Savage (Reading) and Ethan Galbraith (Leyton Orient) are among those to leave this summer.
Only the best will make it at Old Trafford - but Ten Hag wants to ensure that the most talented ones do.
leyekltu
0
Man utd just throw away one of the best academy talent…Greenwood.
Younger35400
0
brought werghost. no tactics, no intensity, no ball possession, no thing
I’m telling you brother, I just believe that this man is the biggest Man United problem.
Buwbemopyz
0
- Sacks Ronaldo - Sacks De Gea - Strips Maguire of Captaincy - Buys Antony - Buys Mount - No Style of Play - Sends Sancho to the Mountains - Loses 6:3 to City - Loses 7:0 to Liverpool - Loses 5:2 to Sevilla Erik Ten Hag ladies and gentlemen. 👏🏻
brought werghost. no tactics, no intensity, no ball possession, no thing
Buwbemopyz
0
the more eth keep playing mountain, Antony, maguire, the more his sacks come closer.
Lisiknopsz
0
I don't understand anything here? how's he helping academy products instead he's selling the good one's and signing wrong one's
Younger35400
1
- Sacks Ronaldo - Sacks De Gea - Strips Maguire of Captaincy - Buys Antony - Buys Mount - No Style of Play - Sends Sancho to the Mountains - Loses 6:3 to City - Loses 7:0 to Liverpool - Loses 5:2 to Sevilla Erik Ten Hag ladies and gentlemen. 👏🏻
abies79
1
Special talent in Zidane Igbal he make a wrong choice unless if we have a buy back clause inserted in his contract we have loose a talent
BrintonC
0
Hey wankers...let Mason play!!
M_Subsay
1
I support my man, ETH, because these boys They refuse to be a best solution to united's problem
Buchano
1
He’s not helping matters when it comes to the young players from academy teams.which is not good for man utd
ArchangelRaphael
1
I personally disagree with you on this. the likes of Kovac , Zidane igbal is a serious Error and will hunt you in days to come
Jukbipty
1
signing kids is planting trees for the future. But we need reinforcement in the team and get win that is what United want. please sign Midfielder, Center back, wing for the time being and for the future we will see what happens?
ishti
3
Here is a thing:- if you are a big club and you are expected to win trophies every year, you can't boast of playing more and more academy graduates. These are hollow claims. Obviously few of them will be extremely promising and they will get playing time. That's all. Playing more youngsters are traits of a selling club. They develop youths to sell for profit. They are not expected to win trophies, so big clubs shouldn't chase that mirage of playing academy graduates.