Manchester United Academy Reshuffle: Young Players Set to Leave

Manchester United are braced for a reshuffle in their academy, with some of the club’s more seasoned youngsters edging towards the exit and into the arms of Premier League rivals.

Arsenal are in talks to sign winger James Scanlon and full-back Habeeb Ogunneye, both of whom spent last season gaining senior experience in League Two. Scanlon had a spell at Swindon Town, while Ogunneye went out to Newport County, as United tested their readiness for the next step.

The numbers from those loans were modest – only a handful of senior appearances between them – but the feeling inside the game is that, at 19 and 20, their ceiling is still rising. Arsenal see development, not finished products, and are moving early.

Their status at Old Trafford has been clear for weeks. Neither Scanlon nor Ogunneye featured in Michael Carrick’s pre-season plans, even as United leaned heavily on youth. Fifteen academy players were named in the 25-man squad for the opening friendly against Wrexham in Helsinki on 18 July. Neither of the pair made that cut.

Ogunneye did get minutes for United’s Under-21s in a pre-season outing against Altrincham on 31 July, a sign he remained in the shop window rather than the first-team frame. Scanlon, who already has 24 caps for Gibraltar and played in May’s Premier League 2 play-off final defeat to Brighton, missed that match with a minor injury.

The two are unlikely to be the last. Other Under-21 regulars, many with loan spells already on their CVs, are expected to assess their options before the transfer window closes on 1 September. United’s academy is still producing, but the next wave of talent may be wearing different colours when the season settles into its stride.