Manchester United’s summer transfer window has been a headache so far. They’ve missed on two top midfield targets already. And their pursuit of guys like Aurelien Tchouameni and Alex Scott? Stalled.
But at the youth level, the story is completely different. United is moving fast and acting decisively.
According to TEAMtalk, United has now put forward a formal proposal for Xavier Parker. That’s the 16-year-old attacking midfielder currently at Manchester City’s academy. And it’s not just United. Basically every big club in Europe is trying to poach him from the Etihad.
The kid is legit
Parker is widely rated as one of the best 16-year-olds in English football. Last season in the U18 Premier League, he was directly involved in 10 goals in just 13 appearances. For a kid playing up an age group, that’s serious production.
City knows what they’re about to lose. They’ve been working “intensively” behind the scenes to lock him down to his first professional contract. Sources describe their offer as “outstanding” and believe it’s among the strongest financial packages available to any player his age anywhere in Europe.
But Parker still hasn’t committed. That waiting game has opened the door for rivals.
United and Liverpool both in the mix
The midfielder is London-born, which might matter. United and Liverpool have both submitted proposals, and both believe they can sell him on a clearer path to senior football. City’s first-team midfield is stacked. The path at Old Trafford or Anfield? Maybe a little more open.
United is also eyeing another City academy product, Karim Cassim. So it’s not just a one-off raid. They’re trying to make a real dent in City’s youth pipeline.
Credit to INEOS for taking the youth setup seriously. But let’s be real — fans want to see big-name midfielders walk through the door for the first team this summer. The goodwill from signing teenagers only goes so far.
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