While Manchester United’s first team recruitment has been far from a smooth ride, INEOS’ academy intake has been superbly handled.
The club signed Diego Leon, who impressed in the club’s first pre-season friendly against Leeds. The Red Devils also saw off the challenge of noisy neighbours Manchester City to land Harley Emsden-James from Southampton.
Highly-rated French wonderkid Enzo Kana-Biyik was snapped up as soon as his Le Havre contract came to an end.
There were murmurs that the young striker would be utilised by Ruben Amorim in pre-season before a call was taken regarding his future.
Enzo Kana-Biyik to Lausanne
But soon after he was unveiled as a United player, the club decided to send him out on loan to INEOS-owned FC Lausanne Sport.
The 18-year-old made his unofficial debut for his new side in a 4-2 friendly win over Swiss second-tier opponents Etoile Carouge and has played a few times during the Swiss side’s pre-season engagements.
But as revealed by Manchester World, the striker has picked up an injury during training and will be missing in action for several weeks. This includes the club’s return to the European stage after 15 years.
Lausanne were set to play their Conference League second qualifying round against North Macedonian side FK Vardar on Thursday, and Enzo Kana-Biyik was expected to make his professional debut.
But that will now have to wait. The France U18 international will also miss the second leg as well as the league opener against FC Winterthur this weekend.
“United signed Kana-Biyik earlier in the month after his Le Havre contract had expired. The 18-year-old was immediately sent on loan to Ineos-owned Swiss Super League club Lausanne Sport.
Early injury setback
“Kana-Biyik made his debut for Lausanne-Sport in a 4-2 friendly win over Swiss second-tier opponents Etoile Carouge just days after he signed, and has featured for them over the last fortnight during their pre-season schedule.
“He played 60 minutes for them last weekend in a training match defeat to Belgian side RWDM Brussels. The hope was that he would feature for them on Thursday night in their huge Conference League second qualifying round against North Macedonian side FK Vardar.
“However, it is understood that the teenage striker is set to miss the massive match after he suffered an injury setback in a recent training session. Kana-Biyik is set to be sidelined for ‘several weeks’, which should rule him out of the second leg in Switzerland next Thursday night, as well as their season opener against FC Winterthur this weekend.”
Hopefully, the French starlet can return soon and continue his development in Switzerland in a competitives environment.
Amorim needs strikers and the club will be hoping Kana-Biyik can impress and eventually make his mark for the United first team.
Feature image Alex Livesey via Getty Images
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Ayantan Chowdhury
Ayantan has worked for 10 years in the Indian sports media industry, writing for the biggest newspapers and websites but his heart was always set on writing about his favourite club. Currently an editor at The Peoples Person. You can follow him on X: @ayantanc_25
