Morgan Rogers is the most expensive British player today but he was once a shot in the dark by Michael Carrick, which is happening at Man Utd this time.
Aston Villa have cashed out in a remarkable deal for Morgan Rogers, selling him for £117m to Chelsea, and Michael Carrick will be grinning somewhere.
It was at Carrick’s Middlesbrough that Rogers truly broke and found joy, having gone from Man City’s academy for less than £1m.
After just six months, he was off to Aston Villa for ten times that fee, and in two years, Villa have sold him for ten times that fee. Man United have just given Carrick his new Morgan Rogers.
Man Utd have confirmed a deal to sign 18-year-old winger Tynan Thompson from Tottenham – What are your thoughts?
Tynan Thompson is Michael Carrick’s new Morgan Rogers
When Rogers arrived at Middlesbrough from Man City’s academy, he was all about potential, but as a youngster who wasn’t getting enough chances.
Three years on from that transfer, Carrick has again identified a youngster who is all about potential at an elite academy.
United have signed Tynan Thompson from Spurs in a deal worth an initial £4m, with potential add-ons taking it close to £8m.
Thompson is a huge loss for Spurs, as he was one of the most highly-rated players in the academy over there, so United have got a coup.
More importantly, Tynan Thompson is exactly the kind of rangy, versatile, explosive, and quick-footed forward that Rogers was when he came under Carrick’s coaching.
The then Middlesbrough manager got all those tools together and set Rogers on the path to stardom, punctuated by the player becoming the English record transfer fee.
Thompson, following the same trajectory (minus a move away!), would do nicely for United, and in Carrick, they have the perfect manager to oversee that path.
Thompson could exceed expectations
The way Thompson’s transfer has been announced, and the fee involved, make it clear that this is not a random acquisition for the academy.
How would YOU feel if Man Utd had spent £117m on Morgan Rogers?
Which attacking player would you like to see United target this summer?
United announced Ayden Heaven similarly, and foreheads were scratched as to why an academy player signed from Arsenal was getting this much coverage.
Nearly two years on from that move, it’s clear why. Ineos’ talent ID has been vindicated by Heaven, and if Thompson also exceeds expectations, it shouldn’t be as big a surprise.
For context, he already cost four times what Heaven did, so Ineos have seen some serious untapped potential in the youngster.
In Carrick, they have the perfect manager to convert that untapped potential into world-class ability. It won’t be a surprise if Thompson for £4m becomes United’s best deal of this summer by this time next year.
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