Manchester United plan to buy a striker in this window, but a wonderkid is doing his best to stake his claim for that spot in the future.
After a good debut season by Benjamin Sesko, Man Utd know that they need more depth in the front line to tackle four competitions next season.
Ideally, they want an ‘experienced’ striker to share Sesko’s burden, but recent links to young strikers like Pio Esposito show they are widening their search.
The answer to their widening search could be right at home in a wonderkid who can’t stop scoring.
Does Louie Bradbury have more potential than Chido Obi?
In terms of pure goals right now, he might be United's best academy striker…
Louie Bradbury makes his mark for Wales U19s
United’s attacking crop in the academy is arguably the envy of most academies in England, which is why Louie Bradbury doesn’t get as much credit as his performances warrant.
At just 17, Bradbury is a serial goalscorer for the U18s side, but he has had to plug away in the shadow of Chido Obi and the high profile of Kai Rooney at times.
Regardless, he hasn’t stopped scoring for the academy, and he has translated that form to the international level as well.
Wales U19s were in action against Sweden recently, and despite losing 3-1, Bradbury marked the occasion with another goal.
He has scored three goals in five appearances for the U19s setup now, which is a great return considering Wales aren’t a footballing powerhouse.
It continues a rapid ascent for the Welshman, who made his Man Utd U21s debut last season in trademark fashion, scoring twice in 55 minutes of football at that level.
“Mini-Solskjaer” Bradbury needs a senior loan
Bradbury already has the quality which is the most difficult to teach, which is his anticipation, allowing him to sniff out opportunities in the box.
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He scores the kind of “ugly” poacher goals that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer built his career upon, even if the rest of his game needs more polishing, which is understandable at his age.
What’s clear is that he has outgrown U18s football, and if there’s no opening for him in the U21s side next season, he needs to be challenged with a loan.
The loan needs to be managed carefully, as we’ve seen with the likes of Gabriele Biancheri, James Scanlon, or Ethan Wheatley how a bad loan can sap all momentum.
Players who effectively guarantee goals are like stardust in football. Bradbury needs to be nurtured like one.
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