Manchester United are actively exploring a surprise move for Sam Mather ahead of next week’s deadline for the summer transfer window, according to a report.
A move abroad
The Manchester Evening News reveals Mather, 20, is “expected” to leave United this week on a permanent transfer as he explores the “next chapter of his development”.
But, interestingly, the report states the youngster is “likely to move abroad, having received interest from clubs in Germany, Sweden and Turkey.”
It is less common for an English academy star to consider a transfer into Europe.
But there is a growing sense that it can provide the ideal stage for youngsters to continue to hone their skills, as demonstrated by the success of players like the Bellingham brothers, Jude and Jobe, with Borussia Dortmund.
The Manchester Evening News describes Mather’s skillset as an “ideal fit for European football”.
The hunt for first-team minutes
Although Mather has two years remaining on his deal at Old Trafford, having signed a three-year deal last summer, the youngster is “keen to play regular competitive football.”
The report states there is a “hunger” for regular starts with a belief he has “outgrown…academy football with the Under-21s.”
He has regularly featured on the left wing for the Red Devils academy sides but his “preferred position” is as a number ten.
Aand without the benefit of consistent first-team minutes in his role, he will not develop the requisite experience to make it his home.
United hope to agree a permanent transfer but a loan with an obligation to buy is another option which would be considered.
Mather’s status as an academy player means his sale, however modest, would constitute ‘pure profit’ from a PSR perspective.
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Darragh Fox
Darragh is a writer for The Peoples Person who spent three years as a history graduate slowly realising football was by far the most interesting thing to write about.
