Manchester United are closing in on signing number one for this summer, and it is not the glamorous name that fans will be expecting.
This summer, Ineos are expected to oversee a long overdue rebuild within the Manchester United squad, with several additions expected to arrive through the doors.
Most notably, United are close to an agreement over signing Matheus Cunha, with the Brazilian looking likely to be the statement piece for Ruben Amorim’s side this summer.
To complement him, United are also trying to bring Liam Delap into the club this summer as the Ipswich striker is available for a rather modest £30m, assuming Ipswich’s impending relegation goes through.
In addition, reports in Argentina have claimed that United will trigger Franco Mastantuono’s £38m release clause in August following his birthday.
However, this summer’s first signing could be a free agent: French youngster Enzo Kana-Biyik, whom United are hoping to sign after his Le Havre contract expires in June. The 18-year-old would be a special addition for Ineos, marking the start of a special relationship.
Enzo Kana-Biyik deal will mark the start of Ineos utilising multi-club model at Manchester United
One strength of Ineos at United was the potential for a multi-club model. Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s part-ownership of OGC Nice and FC Lausanne-Sport could possibly allow for a similar set-up to the one which Manchester City or Chelsea have.
This relationship between United and Lausanne has already been explored this season. This happened when United sent three youngsters to train with Lausanne, Habeeb Ogunneye, Jack Kingdon and Ethan Williams.
This was, however, a one-off, yet Kana-Biyik is expected to spend the 2025/26 season at Lausanne on loan if he does sign for United this summer.
This is an excellent idea and one which Ineos are right to make use of, with Kana-Biyik unlikely to be the only United player sent to Lausanne or maybe even Nice this summer.
When the part-takeover was completed, Nice were assured they wouldn’t become a United feeder club, but in a similar way to Girona and Strasbourg are for City and Chelsea respectively, it could be a relationship which benefits all involved.
This strategy is exciting, and if it does happen to Kana-Biyik, he will likely be the ball which gets this whole thing moving, with several players who could benefit from a move to the affiliate next season on loan.
Who could follow Kana-Biyik to Lausanne?
If signed this summer, Kana-Biyik would follow in Paul Pogba’s footsteps, joining United from Le Havre, which bodes well if he is to have half the career of the World Cup-winning midfielder.
The plan of sending youngsters to Lausanne is something we would expect to see plenty of, and this summer, Kana-Biyik could be joined by one or two United teammates.
Interestingly, the current Lausanne squad has a gap at left back with neither of the options currently at the club looking like a solution long term, while Morgan Poaty’s contract situation is unclear.
Therefore, this loan could be perfect for Diego Leon if the club decide he is best served in senior football opposed to youth football. Harry Amass’ rise to become a first-team player has harmed Leon’s chances of deputising Patrick Dorgu, and so the club may need to loan him out.
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