Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Co. are under scrutiny right now among a section of the fanbase for their stance on Ruben Amorim, but one player stands as their biggest success story.
Omar Berrada promised from the beginning that the transfers would not be made with a particular manager in mind, as the club has a long-term vision.
So far, that looks to be true, as the Man Utd squad, as currently constructed, can easily move to a back four system without players having to play unnatural positions.
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Ineos deserve credit for their recruitment, and a player whose value has gone up by more than ten times since he came to Old Trafford is the template.
Ayden Heaven’s value has shot up in less than a year
When Ayden Heaven was signed from Arsenal for just £1.5m (incl. add-ons), the general expectation was that he would play for the academy teams.
That’s what Chido Obi did, and Heaven was not nearly as high-profile a name as Obi.
However, nobody gave Heaven that script, as he took advantage of an injury crisis less than a month after arriving to become a stalwart for the first team.
Coming out of nowhere, Heaven became the crown jewel of United’s young defence, and after his ability left nobody in doubt, the next step was to prove his mentality.
That test came at the beginning of this season, when he found himself on the fringes of the first team.
However, he took advantage of an injury crisis again, making his way to the first XI, and now, by Ruben Amorim’s own admission, it will be difficult to take him out.
As a result, he has engineered another breakout, and this time, it has seen his value rise to more than ten times the amount he was bought for.
United signed him for about £1.5m, and as per FotMob, he’s currently valued at more than £15m (€18.1m), cementing his rise.
That’s not even considering his “true” value, since there’s no chance United entertain offers for him worth £15m, because he’s just that highly rated.
In reality, somebody would have to offer money in the region of £65-70m for United to even consider entering the negotiations because, ideally, he’s untouchable.
Heaven has become Ineos’ template for transfers
It goes without saying that Heaven is an exception, because you don’t expect a youngster plucked from a rival’s academy to immediately become a starter for Man Utd.
Wes Brown is backing Ayden Heaven! Do you share his confidence?
“I think we’ve said it every time he’s played: he’s been excellent. He’s done his job and hasn’t looked out of place in any way.”
Wes Brown
Still, because of the amount United paid for him and the return on investment they have already received, Heaven has become the template for transfers.
Sure, players like Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo are necessary to raise the floor of the team, but punting on players like Heaven is becoming common after seeing his success.
Since Heaven, players like Diego Leon and Cristian Orozco have signed for the club, although Leon hasn’t received the opportunity for the first team.
The risk attached to these signings is almost zero, as their age, potential, and Man Utd tag alone will allow the club to make a profit on them if they are sold eventually.
In the best-case scenario, as with Heaven, United will have signed a first-team contributor for what’s peanuts in today’s market.
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