Swiss press expect Manchester United to be involved in Simone Pafundi’s future

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Manchester United could well be brought into the equation for Italian starlet Simone Pafundi, according to reports.

Last week it was confirmed that Swiss side FC Lausanne struck a deal for the signing of FC Udinese talent Simone Pafundi. As the Swiss side are owned by Ineos, Manchester United fans saw the potential for a future switch to Old Trafford.

Due to Brexit rules in place, which prevents English clubs from signing foreign players under 18, teams have got creative in terms of how they can develop these players.

Chelsea have a link with Strasbourg and Manchester City have a whole football group that they can rely upon including high-flying Girona, who are excelling in La Liga.

Ineos’ plan

Interestingly, according to a report from German outlet Blick, Manchester United are tipped to play a role in Simone Pafundi’s future.

The report states that Ineos are the main reason Pafundi has made his way to the Swiss club. Without their links to OGC Nice and Manchester United, and the financial strength the group can bring, the player ‘would never’ have made the move.

This will likely give the Italian ‘extra motivation’ to succeed if he knows a move to Old Trafford could be in the offing. All of this will depend on whether the Swiss side trigger the buy option in the deal.

Set at around £12 million, according to the report, Lausanne will have a chance to trigger this deal in the summer if things go to plan. However, if Pafundi features in less than 50 per cent of the games for the Swiss side, Udinese have the option to bring him back.

United’s need for a feeder club

Apart from Belgian side Royal Antwerp in the mid-2000’s, the Red Devils have failed to have a ‘feeder’ club. A club that the Red Devils can send their highly-rated academy players to develop at. It allows the player to grow and the club gets a United star in their ranks.

The Red Devils have been late to the party on this phenomenon but have to take advantage of the clubs that will be in the Ineos network.

OGC Nice’s involvement may well make it difficult due to the potential of the French side in the Champions League but, the Swiss side have to be utilised.

Being able to send academy players, whether it’s Willy Kambwala, Dan Gore, or Jack Fletcher, who has shone for the under-18 team, to the Swiss side if they aren’t receiving the right amount of game time would be massively important for the Red Devils.