The Athletic: Man Utd leave Arsenal trailing in the race for ‘game-changing’ midfielder

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Utd Report

·11 August 2026

The Athletic: Man Utd leave Arsenal trailing in the race for ‘game-changing’ midfielder

Manchester United are leading the race for promising Leicester City teenager Louis Page, who is also wanted at Arsenal.

The Red Devils were expected to add top-class players to Michael Carrick’s first team this season. But so far, they have only added Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans to their midfield ranks, while Karl Darlow arrived as a free agent to add cover behind first-choice goalkeeper Senne Lammens.

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In the meantime, INEOS remain adamant about recruiting some of the finest young players in the country. They have already brought in 18-year-old winger Tynan Thompson from Tottenham, while their next acquisition could come from the East Midlands.

Man United the frontrunners in Louis Page race

Over the past few days, Louis Page has emerged as a serious target for Man Utd. The 18-year-old is a midfielder who rose through Leicester’s ranks and became a member of the first team last season.

According to the latest edition of The Athletic’s Transfer DealSheet, United are indeed leading the race for the exciting teenager, leaving Arsenal trailing behind.

The source believes that INEOS view the young Englishman in the same bracket as Ayden Heaven, who instantly became a member of the senior squad after making the move from Arsenal in January 2025.

But while the defender had signed for United on a free transfer, Page remains tied to Leicester with a contract running until June 2029. Transfermarkt estimates his value at €4 million, but the Foxes would almost certainly request a higher figure.

Is Page Ready to play senior football at Man Utd

After making 22 appearances with Leicester’s first team, a return to academy football could be deemed a step back in Page’s promising career.

Nevertheless, the Premier League and Champions League represent a whole different level compared with the English Championship, so this ‘step back’ could be necessary to protect the young man who could struggle to cope with this significant step up in competition.

While Man Utd fans should be delighted if the club pull off this signing of one of the most exciting young midfielders in the country, most supporters would be disgruntled if he proves to be the final addition to the midfield department.

Despite Mason Mount’s ability to feature in a deeper role and the rise of the Fletcher twins, the vast majority of the fanbase has been urging the hierarchy to add another accomplished player to the department.