Manchester United will continue to recruit players for their academy teams, despite withdrawing from two competitions to reduce the games programme next season. The club has pulled out of the EFL Trophy and the National League Cup for the upcoming term, aiming to carry a smaller squad in their Under-21 group.
Strategic Competition Changes
Having secured a return to the Champions League next season, United will enter the UEFA Youth League and continue to compete in the Premier League International Cup. As a result, they have withdrawn from two domestic competitions. Academy sources said the aim was to give greater focus to individual development for their best young players, as well as to open up opportunities for some of them to step up to first-team training.
Despite plans to have a smaller squad next season, United will still recruit this summer, eyeing some of the best young talent in the country. Instead, they will take a more judicious, selective approach to signing young players.
Targeted Recruitment
United were one of a number of clubs interested in Leicester City's in-demand 16-year-old Jeremy Monga, and are also eyeing up Liverpool duo Vincent Joseph and Isaac Konde. United want to make sure they have a tight group of players they can develop and improve, rather than carrying a larger squad at the age-group level simply to fulfil a busy games programme.
