Manchester United are set to announce their second summer arrival as INEOS to invest in academy signings, according to reports. The Red Devils kicked off their summer spending by confirming the arrival of Matheus Cunha on Thursday, joining in a £62.5million deal from Wolves.
Bryan Mbeumo could follow Cunha through the arrivals suite as Ruben Amorim’s second senior addition during the off-season. United are locked in negotiations with Brentford, who are demanding a package worth £60m after rejecting an initial £50m approach. But the Old Trafford giants are just as busy in their efforts to recruit for the future as they have been since the INEOS regime entered power.
United’s football leadership team – made up of chief executive Omar Berrada, director of football Jason Wilcox and head of recruitment Christopher Vivell – has implemented a youthful strategy.
Since last summer, United have completed deals for Chido Obi, Sekou Kone, Ayden Heaven and Diego Leon.
Earlier this week, 16-year-old centre-back Harley Emsden-James joined from Southampton for around £1m with add-ons.
And while United didn’t formally announce Emsden-James’ arrival, they reportedly plan to do so when Enzo Kana-Biyik switches from Le Havre.
According to the Manchester Evening News, United are primed to complete the signing of Kana-Biyik in a free transfer.
The 18-year-old striker travelled to Manchester to finalise his move in April, and it will become official upon the completion of a few regulatory steps.
It’s claimed that United will publicly announce Kana-Biyik’s arrival, as they did with Kone and Heaven. Obi, Leon, and Emsden-James’ transfers were more low profile.
Kana-Biyik scored nine goals in 16 appearances for Le Havre’s Under-19s last season and trained with the first team.
He will follow in the footsteps of French World Cup-winning midfielder Paul Pogba, who landed in United’s academy as a teenager from the Ligue 1 club.
Ruben Amorim’s plans for Kana-Biyik are unknown as he searches for a new striker in the transfer market to join Cunha and Mbeumo in his attack.
But the starlet reportedly could spend next season on loan at FC Lausanne-Sport in Switzerland, owned by INEOS.
United’s academy staff are said to have learned some French to help Kone settle in Manchester last summer, which will prove useful for Kana-Biyik’s arrival.
He emerges from the same academy as Pogba, Riyad Mahrez, Dimitri Payet, and Steve Mandanda and may get his first taste of playing for United in pre-season.