Manchester United Academy Players in Talks with Arsenal

Manchester United’s academy is bracing for a small but telling shake-up, with two of its more seasoned youngsters in discussions over a switch to Arsenal.

Winger James Scanlon and full-back Habeeb Ogunneye are both in talks with the north London club after loan spells in League Two last season, with Scanlon at Swindon and Ogunneye at Newport. The minutes were limited, the exposure wasn’t. At 19 and 20, United and potential suitors see something still to mould.

Neither player featured in Michael Carrick’s pre-season plans, a clear sign of where the internal hierarchy now sits. Carrick named 15 academy players in his 25-man squad for the opening pre-season fixture against Wrexham in Helsinki on 18 July. Scanlon and Ogunneye were not among them.

Ogunneye did get on the pitch for United’s Under-21s in a pre-season outing against Altrincham on 31 July, starting that game as he looks to maintain rhythm and visibility. Scanlon, by contrast, watched from the sidelines, ruled out with a minor injury.

The Gibraltar international has already built a curious profile for a teenager. Scanlon has 24 senior caps for his country and played in May’s Premier League 2 play-off final, where United’s youngsters lost to Brighton. That combination of international experience and developmental football makes him an intriguing project for any club willing to invest time.

The potential exits of Scanlon and Ogunneye form part of a broader picture. Other United players with substantial Under-21 experience, many of whom have already sampled loan spells away from Old Trafford, are also expected to be on the move before the 1 September transfer deadline.

United’s academy conveyor belt keeps turning. The question now is how many of this current crop will be wearing different colours by the time the window slams shut.