Blake Henry: Man United’s plan for Derby County wonderkid explained | OneFootball

Manchester United are set to sign Derby County wonderkid Blake Henry, according to a new report.

Striking Starlet

Despite only turning 14 in November, Henry is already attracting attention from the Premier League’s elite thanks to his incredible goalscoring record last season.

The Manchester Evening News reveals the red-hot striker plundered 45 goals across all competitions to mark himself as “one of the hottest attacking prospects in the country.”

In Derby’s 142-year history, Henry became the second youngster player to be offered a scholarship at 13, while he has already signed a sponsorship deal with Adidas.

Over the winter period, the England under-15 international made his debut for Derby in the U18 Premier League, becoming one of the youngest players to do so. The Midlands club worked “incredibly hard” to tie him down to a new contract over the past 18 months, but he is expected to leave Park Park this summer.

Despite Manchester City vying for his signature, local outlet Derby Telegraph reveals he is “set to join Manchester United”.

Derby will be entitled to “significant compensation” should Henry arrive at Old Trafford, though the exact figure will be determined by his “age, how long he spent at the academy, the category of the club signing him plus development and training costs.”

If the two clubs cannot reach an agreement, the case will “go to a Professional Football Compensation Committee tribunal which will determine the outcome,” the report concludes.

Focusing on Youth

United have demonstrated a renewed focus on securing the best youngsters since INEOS took charge in 2024 – an approach which had been lost in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era.

The captures of Ayden Heaven and Chido Obi from Arsenal highlight a ruthlessness from the Old Trafford hierarchy, while the signings of talents like Sekou Kone from Mali and Diego Leon from Paraguay underscore how global their view is.

Talks are underway to bring David Eze to the red half of Manchester, with the 16-year-old midfielder considered one of the premier prospects in Man City’s academy.

Similarly, a deal has just been struck to add Liverpool’s highly-rated winger Vincent Joseph, while Isaac Konde is another target in the crosshairs on Merseyside.

While a raid on Derby does not quite stoke the fires in the same way as one on Anfield or the Etihad, Henry is one of the most exciting talents at any age group in the country.

Featured image Christopher Furlong via Getty Images

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