Journalist: Three Man Utd youngsters vying for first-team spot next season – Amorim’s favourite snubbed | OneFootball

Manchester United will reportedly add an academy product to their midfield department this season, with three youngsters emerging as candidates.

Michael Carrick has been operating with limited options in the middle of the park. He only has three out-and-out midfielders in Kobbie Mainoo, Casemiro, and Manuel Ugarte, while Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount are his options for the attacking-midfielder spot.

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With Casemiro departing at the end of the season and Ugarte placed on the market, three additions could be required in the summer.

Three young Man United midfielders competing for a first-team spot

In his latest Q & A, the Manchester Evening News writer Tyrone Marshall was asked about Man Utd’s midfield plans.

While the journalist didn’t rule out the signing of three new midfielders in the summer, he believes buying two and promoting an academy product might be the most plausible scenario.

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With so many names being floated on the market, it remains extremely difficult to envision which midfielders MUFC will buy next season. The shortlist includes Elliot Anderson, Sandro Tonali, Aurelien Tchouameni, Carlos Baleba, and Ederson.

But when it comes to internal promotion, Marshall believes the casting can be limited to three viable candidates: Jim Thwaites, Tyler Fletcher, and Jack Moorhouse.

Interestingly, the other Fletcher twin, Jack, hasn’t been mentioned, despite being the first to make his senior debut out of the bunch.

Jack Fletcher made his three successive Premier League appearances this season against Aston Villa, Newcastle, and Wolves, all coming in December.

However, the 19-year-old gradually faded from the scene following Ruben Amorim’s dismissal and his father’s (Darren Fletcher) two-game stewardship.

Why Tyler Fletcher could be the favourite for Man Utd promotion

While his twin brother, Jack, has been exclusively featuring for Man Utd U21 since Michael Carrick’s arrival, Tyler Fletcher earned his debut in February against Spurs.

Although he hasn’t played with the seniors ever since, he has become a constant presence in the dugout, marking him as the manager’s favourite candidate for a permanent promotion.

Therefore, Carrick’s confirmation as Man Utd boss could pave the way for Tyler Fletcher’s first-team promotion in the summer.

On the other hand, Moourhouse represents a slightly older (20) and more experienced profile. The Ireland U21 international is spending the current season at Leyton Orient, making 20 appearances in League One.

The Manchester native excels at carrying the ball forward, while Tyler Fletcher tends to operate from a deeper role. Hence, the decision could come down to which skillset would be more beneficial for the squad. This could certainly hinge on the identity of the new signings.

Finally, Thwaites might be the most talented and promising profile of the lot. The 18-year-old has already earned comparisons to the likes of Pedri, Toni Kroos, and Thiago Alcantara thanks to his remarkable composure on the ball and ability to operate in tight spaces.

Thwaites also impressed during last month’s training camp in Dublin. However, the teenager has spent the bulk of his campaign with Man Utd U18, so catapulting him straight into the first team (without going through the U21 ranks or a loan spell) could be slightly risky.