Manchester United's academy teams will kick off their new seasons this weekend. The final touches are being made to plans ahead of the new campaign at Carrington this week.
The Under-18s will take on Manchester City, a potential early title decider given the Manchester clubs have dominated that division, while the Under-21s will host Ipswich Town on Monday night.
This week's edition of the Manchester Evening News' Academy Notebook features the exciting Noah Ajayi and Jaydan Kamason, and details on how United fared at a tournament in the Netherlands last weekend.
Ajayi Close to Signing
Noah Ajayi was excellent for the U18s last season. All the talk was about JJ Gabriel during the FA Youth Cup campaign, but Ajayi scored twice in the Youth Cup and ended the campaign with nine across all competitions.
That haul included the only goal against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park in the Premier League League Cup final. There were even some comparisons made between a young Marcus Rashford and Ajayi because of the way he moved down the left wing.
However, Ajayi was not included when United recently announced the nine players who had signed professional contracts, causing concern among fans amid links to Bayern Munich this summer.
Ajayi was born in Hamburg to a Nigerian father and German mother, but it looks like he will stay in Manchester, as it's understood he is now close to signing professional terms with United.
While there is still some work to do to finalise the contract, everything is moving in the right direction.
Kamason's Future to be Decided
There is a large cohort of academy players whose futures still need to be decided for the new season. Jaydan Kamason is understood to be among those unsure where he will play football in 2026/27.
Kamason was excellent for the first team in the Rosenborg friendly last month, assisting twice in the second half, and a Championship loan seems the best option for him to continue his development.
The problem is that the season has already started, and a loan is yet to be arranged. Kamason is not the only player in that position. There are several academy players who need to move away before the transfer deadline.
United's loan strategy has been scrutinised, and it's fair to suggest the club should be doing better in that area. Ideally, loans for academy players would be agreed at the start of the summer to give them the best chance of settling into a new environment.
The Premier League season has not kicked off, but the EFL season began last weekend, so United's loan strategy looks a bit muddled.
Gabriel on Target Again
United's U21s played Championship club Sheffield Wednesday in another behind-closed-doors friendly at Carrington this week and Gabriel was on target again, finding the net with a terrific effort.
Gabriel began the move, playing a one-two down the left, before losing his marker with a piece of skill. That allowed the youngster to fashion a yard of space in the box, and a player of his ability rarely misses from such close proximity.
The 15-year-old should have no problem stepping up to the U21s this season. Gabriel is also expected to make his senior debut, but the conversation around his future will grow louder as the campaign progresses.
Next summer is a window for Gabriel to join Barcelona. United have done everything they can to demonstrate a pathway to the teenager, and that might be enough when he is asked to make a decision.
Gabriel was close to leaving United last year, but he was emotional at the prospect of leaving a club he loves representing and decided to stay.
United at the Otten Cup
The Otten Innovation Cup took place over the weekend. The annual tournament for Under-19 teams is organised by PSV Eindhoven, who open the doors to their training ground to host the matches.
The Otten Innovation Cup has impressive alumni, with household names such as Harry Kane, Romelu Lukaku, Marc Cucurella and Anthony Gordon having played in the tournament earlier in their careers.
Darren Fletcher oversaw a talented United U19 team, which included the likes of Yuel Helafu, Rafe McCormack, Jayden Ngwashi, Jacey Carrick and Kai Rooney.
United lost 1-0 against PSV in their opening game - Ruud van Nistelrooy's son was on the bench for the home side - and drew 1-1 against Brazilian side SE Palmeiras in their second match. The Reds then drew 2-2 against Adelaide United, and they finished fifth in the tournament.
Fletcher targeted a deeper run at the Otten Innovation Cup, but the trip was a useful final tune-up ahead of the new campaign.
Arsenal's Interest in Two Players
It emerged on Wednesday that Arsenal are interested in signing Habeeb Ogunneye and James Scanlon, which came as a surprise to followers of the academy, but it makes more sense when you take a closer look.
Arsenal are short on players in their U21 squad, so Ogunneye and Scanlon would strengthen it. David Horseman, who spent three months with United's U21s, was also recently appointed as Arsenal U21 boss.
Horseman knows both players and clearly feels they would be good additions for Arsenal's U21 squad, but whether it's the best career move for either player is another matter.
Ogunneye, 20, played for Newport County on loan last season and Scanlon, 19, spent time with Swindon Town. Would they be better served trying to seal another move lower down the pyramid to kick-start their professional careers? Perhaps, but maybe Arsenal's offer makes the most sense.
