Manchester United are looking to recruit young talent for the future but may see a former Old Trafford talent land a big move this summer.
Ineos wanted to change the culture around Manchester United – especially in the transfer window.
Gone are the days of United committing hefty wages – almost £700,000-a-week combined – to the likes of Casemiro and Raphael Varane.
United want to land hot prospects for the future and have already signed wonderkid Leny Yoro from Lille.
Chido Obi-Martin is now set to join too with United ready to pounce after the teenager announced his Arsenal exit.
Fellow Danish talent Amin Chiakha could yet follow with United interested in signing the Copenhagen forward.
- READ MORE: Manchester United confirmed signings, transfers in, out, loan exits, releases for 2024/25
Tahith Chong transfer latest
United have been prominent in terms of signing young players over the years, but this feels like a very co-ordinated effort from Ineos.
Alejandro Garnacho is a great example of a player brought in as a teenager to then become a first-team player.
Not everybody can go on that path to first-team stardom though and Tahith Chong is a perfect example.
Chong joined United from Feyenoord at the age of just 16, having attracted major interest during his time in Rotterdam.
Excitement levels were high for Chong but he only ever managed 16 first-team appearances for United.
Loans to Werder Bremen and Club Brugge didn’t push Chong any closer to Old Trafford stardom and a loan to Birmingham City became permanent in 2022.
United cashed in on the midfielder, selling Chong for just £1.5million as he dropped down to the Championship.
Luton Town pounced to sign Chong for £4million last summer, handing him a fairly swift return to the Premier League.
Chong and the Hatters suffered relegation but the 24-year-old is now a man in demand.
Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg claims that clubs around Europe and even in the Premier League are keen to land Chong.
Luton allegedly value Chong at £10million, a major rise on the price United sold him for just two years ago.
The Hatters won’t exactly be rushing to sell Chong but it would be difficult to deny him an immediate return to the Premier League if an offer arrives.
How did Chong fair for Luton?
Chong started 20 Premier League games last season and came off the bench in another 13, meaning he only failed to feature in five league games last term.
The Dutchman predominantly played as an attacking midfielder but also operated as a central midfielder and a left winger.
Chong managed four goals for Luton, finding the net against Liverpool, Aston Villa, Bournemouth and Tottenham Hotspur.
After a spell out of the team, Chong forced his way back in and left boss Rob Edwards seriously impressed.
Edwards praised Chong for his intelligence and his work ethic during his time at Kenilworth Road.
“I think he’s been really improving for quite a while,” Edwards told Luton Today after drawing 1-1 with Everton. “It’s great because he’s shown a lot of intelligence. He’s taken on information and really understands why he wasn’t starting earlier on in the season. He’s making a big impact now because he’s doing the things that we’ve all worked together with him to do. I thought it was an excellent performance from him.”
Chong may not live up to the enormous billing he held upon arriving at United, but he has shown that he can be a real contributor in the Premier League – and he may well face off against United this season if he can secure a move.
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