Manchester United are closing in on a deal to sign talented teenage goalkeeper Callan McKenna.
Callan McKenna would be a signing for the Manchester United academy, rather than Erik ten Hag’s main squad, but he arrives with first team experience, and he would be the first addition made by the club at any level this January so far.
The Daily Record report Manchester United are in advanced talks with McKenna’s club, Queen’s Park in Scotland.
The fee would reportedly be a six-figure transfer sum, ‘loaded with add-ons’ which could increase it to seven figures.
Who is Callan McKenna
Callan McKenna, 17, has already made his first team debut for Queen’s Park, who play in Scotland’s second tier.
McKenna began his career in Celtic’s youth academy at a young age before signing with Hibernian in 2018, and then Queen’s Park in 2021.
He has now progressed through the ranks, making nine first team appearances for the Spiders, keeping two clean sheets.
He began the season as their first choice, when he was just 16, before suffering an injury, but has returned to their bench in recent games. He turned 17 at the end of December.
The Record’s report claims Manchester United have beaten competition from Arsenal and Chelsea to lead the race for his signature.
McKenna is a Scotland under-19s international, also representing his country and under-18s and under-17s level.
Goalkeeper is a tough position to break through in at Manchester United, but the club are always keen to add young talent, and McKenna getting first team experience already will stand him in good stead, and perhaps enable him to be better prepared to continue his development on loan spells.
British recruitment vital for Manchester United academy
Manchester United can no longer look abroad and pluck the best youngsters from the likes of Atletico Madrid, like with Alejandro Garnacho.
This is due to Brexit rules which came in at the end of 2020, which saw Willy Kambwala as the last foreign youth signing.
The rule change has heightened United’s desire to focus on signing the best UK talents, with Wales youth international striker Gabriele Biancheri signed last January from Cardiff.
United continue to stand out as a club which will give opportunities to the best young players, with Omari Forson the latest youngster to make his first team debut last night.
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