Manchester United allowed a number of young players to leave the club last summer and it may be a similar story during the upcoming transfer window.
We saw United flog youngsters for fun, possibly as most of them count as pure profit in terms of the Premier League Profit and Sustainability Rules.
Nathan Bishop, Matej Kovar, Charlie Savage, Zidane Iqbal, Bjorn Hardley, Noam Emeran, Marc Jurado and Teden Mengi were all allowed to leave Old Trafford and chase first-team futures elsewhere.
Add in Mateo Meija’s January move to Sevilla as well as Isak Hansen-Aaroen being sold to Werder Bremen and it’s clear that United are willing to let young players go.
United have explored buy-back and hefty sell-on clauses in these deals, meaning the club can still benefit from their potential successes down the line.
We may now see more youngsters leave this summer and it may be time for one defender to leave Old Trafford…
Hibernian boss on Will Fish
Will Fish has come up through the United ranks having been born in Manchester and he was handed a first-team debut in 2021.
Fish came on as a substitute against Wolverhampton Wanderers on the final day of the 2020-21 season but hasn’t appeared for United since.
After a frustrating spell with Stockport County, centre back Fish has spent nearly two seasons on loan with Hibernian.
Now nearing a return to Old Trafford, Fish has developed well and Hibernian are now keen to keep hold of him moving forward.
Boss Nick Montgomery has told The Edinburgh Evening News that HIbs will ‘definitely’ be an option for Fish this summer.
Montgomery believes that Hibernian are a ‘big club’ and deserve to be right in the mix for Fish’s signature despite interest from elsewhere.
Montgomery has loved working with Fish and will initiate talks with United and the defender’s agent this summer, leaving a move until the end of the season.
“If this is his last season, no doubt he’ll look back on it with really fond memories of building his character. But, for Will, I don’t think he really needs a pitch from us. He really enjoys playing for Hibs. He really loves the club, and I think he enjoys the way we play,” said Montgomery.
“Ultimately, it’s going to be down to what options he has. And there are probably going to be other clubs looking at his form this season, his games here. We are a big club. So, for Will, it’s going to be what is going to be the best option for him. We’re definitely going to be one of those options. But I’m sure there will be many others. And, whatever happens, we’ll support Will in what that looks like.”
“Will has really enjoyed his time here. I think he’s developed a lot and improved a lot. Right now he’s a player contracted to Man United. But I don’t think you can question Will’s commitment to Hibs. I think he’s given every piece of himself to the club since he arrived, certainly since I’ve been at the club, anyway.”
“That’s one where we get through to the end of the season, and then there will be a conversation between Will, his agent and Man United. No doubt, if there was an opportunity to explore, that’s something we’ve already spoken to Will about. But right now that’s something that we won’t discuss until the season is finished. Then we’ll look at the situation as a whole,” he added.
Fish breakthrough at United looks unlikely
You never know when a chance could arrive but it’s looking unlikely that Fish will receive first-team chances at United.
Fish is already 21 and that he hasn’t played for United in nearly three years suggests that he isn’t in the plans.
Moving on and playing regular first-team football elsewhere is the best move for Fish, who must have seen Teden Mengi’s rise.
Mengi was in a similar situation a year ago; he’d been out on loan but was onto fringes at United.
Luton Town pounced and Mengi now shining, resulting in rumoured interest from Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen.
Whether it’s Hibernian or elsewhere, Fish has the talent to really kick on away from United and a permanent move is surely in his mind this summer.
READ MORE: Join the conversation with the United in Focus Whatsapp group
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
