Man Utd could repeat Man City transfer trick as Erik ten Hag gives green light to deal

Manchester United striker Joe Hugill has moved to League One side Wigan as he takes the next step in his development.

Fresh from scoring a goal in United’s 2-0 win over Rangers last weekend, Hugill was primed to be part of the team heading across the Atlantic. However, his name was later removed from the list.

With Joshua Zirkzee still out after his time with Holland at the European Championship, Hugill would have been a useful addition. Rasmus Hojlund and Ethan Wheatley are the only center forwards to make the trip to the US.

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Despite being highly regarded at United, he was unlikely to be a first-team regular this season. Hugill is yet to make a competitive appearance for the club and Zirkzee’s arrival pushed him further down the pecking order. It’s a move that works for everyone involved.

Hugill spent part of last season on loan, joining Burton Albion in January. He remained with the Brewers for the remainder of the season, making 18 appearances and scoring one goal.

His short spell in the Midlands was a real test of his mettle; Burton were involved in a relegation loss and managed to avoid the drop by just two points. Wigan, on the other hand, are aiming to compete at the opposite end of the table this season.

Furthermore, Hugill stands to gain from spending a full season on loan rather than joining a club midway through the campaign. Having signed for the Latics before the end of July, he will have plenty of time to acclimatise to his new surroundings and get to know his team-mates before the start of the season.

Everyone connected with United will be rooting for Hugill to make a resounding success of his spell with the Latics and return to Old Trafford at the end of the season a more complete player. He’s already shown at the youth level that he has a knack for finding the back of the net, and now it’s time for him to show that talent on the big stage.

On the other side of Manchester, Liam Delap found himself in a similar situation at City, a promising young player who was unlikely to make the cut, leading to his sale to Ipswich Town. He scored just eight goals during his loan spell at Hull City last season.

Meanwhile, City have successfully monetized several of their academy graduates, from Cole Palmer to James Trafford and Taylor Harwood-Bellis. United are aiming to raise their standards to match and want to build a squad capable of returning them to their former glory. This involves additional investment and larger signatures.

Liverpool.com says: It is essential that young players get first-team exposure and if their chances at their parent club are slim, a loan move is best for all parties. It’s a route Liverpool are likely to take with Jayden Danns this summer as he continues to be linked with a loan move to Plymouth.