Manchester United’s EFL players should be watching this summer

Summer is almost upon us, so that means the transfer window will be too.

While most people will look to Europe or South America, we shouldn’t forget some hidden gems in the Football League.

James Maddison, Ollie Watkins, Ivan Toney, Eberechi Eze, Michael Olise and let’s not forget this year’s potential Ballon d’Or winner Jude Bellingham to name a few are examples that the talent is there but the question is whether the big clubs have the patience to model it?

We take a look at some of the players United should be watching this summer under the new regime of Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos.

Leif Davis

Former Manchester United coach and potential future manager Kieran McKenna has worked wonders with Ipswich Town since joining the East Anglian club in December 2021. One of his biggest successes is left-back Leif Davis, signed from Leeds for 1 million of pounds sterling. He was simply a revelation.

With 14 assists in their promotion season last year, Davis has registered 17 this term as the Tractor Boys secured promotion back to the top flight.

United have major fitness concerns with both Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia both having long spells on the sidelines over the last few seasons.

Defensively, he may not be the best, but up front Davis is brilliant.

Ronnie Edwards

The name sounds more like a gangster in 1960s London, but Edwards is a potential steal for any big club going forward. Peterborough has a great track record of finding talented players that other teams have missed out on and selling them for a huge profit. Edwards is next on the talent conveyor belt.

At just under 6ft Edwards is a physical defender who can handle the rigors of English football’s third tier, and with Peterborough losing in the play-offs this season, he is guaranteed to play at a higher level , regardless of the fact that Posh will struggle to keep him

A player who uses his physicality to good effect but can also play the ball with a good long ball in his arsenal. He has predominantly played on the left side of defense this season alongside Josh Knight, the England U20 international won’t be a lower league secret for too long if he continues.

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Crystal Palace and West Ham are both interested in him and Palace tried to sign him in the previous window, so no doubt they will be back again. Edwards could be available for less than £10/15m, but a well-structured deal with add-ons could be the best way to go as Barnet have a 50% sell-on clause.

Also, given that we’re talking about a League One defender, then a mention of Charlie Hughes at Wigan, another player who presents as a good prospect, and given that Wigan’s ground is also used for the rugby team of the city, then the use of the ball is impressive.

Jonathan Rowe

James Maddison, Max Aarons and Emi Buendia are some of the names in recent seasons who have emerged from Norwich and become established players in the Premier League, and Rowe could well add his name to that list soon enough.

Rowe is a left winger who is also comfortable on the right and has huge potential, good dribbling with a good turn of pace, with a penchant for the spectacular. He’s an exciting prospect and is sure to attract admiring glances from a few Premier League clubs, if Norwich don’t go up this season and a big enough bid comes in, don’t be surprised if he makes the jump.

Speaking of the puck, Rowe scores more headers than you’d think as a trick winger makes for another reason to like him. United have question marks over several of their wings, notably Marcus Rashford, so a young player who could develop could be a good signing if United decide to take advantage of other attacking players who are not playing in this moment.

Also, while Crysencio Summerville may get all the headlines and rightfully so, I doubt Leeds would sell to United. I like Jack Clarke at Sunderland who is a similar player to Rowe who also has his suitors and will more than likely be on the move in the summer with 15 goals and 6 assists it’s easy to see why.

Jordan James

Benfica, Sporting Lisbon, Atalanta are three teams that if they are interested in a player, then you know that player has potential. An example is Viktor Gyokeres, as several Premier League clubs did not believe he was worth the £20 million Coventry wanted after his stellar campaign in the Championship, while Sporting Lisbon, who paid £20 million euros and a year later, he could triple his money.

Atalanta tried to sign James in the January transfer window and with Birmingham relegated it could mean he will have to be sold to help balance the books.

The last midfielder to catch the eye for Birmingham was a Jude Bellingham, now James is not as good as Jude (who is?) but still a wonderful player who has a lot of potential. When Wales beat Croatia in Cardiff in October, James drew particular praise for his maturity in front of the likes of Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacic and Marcelo Brozovic.

Before he was sacked as Birmingham manager, United legend Wayne Rooney liked what he saw from the Wales international and pushed him into a more advanced position with his eye for goal and ability to make good runs into the box .

James is equally adept in a deeper role, but the queue for his services will stretch around the block and with United needing to completely overhaul their midfield again this year, they may want to get in quickly to stop some of the best talent factories in Europe. finding another gem that has escaped the grasp of the Premier League.

Jacob Greaves

A left footed ball playing centre-back is a rarity in football, they are highly sought after and attract a lot of attention, especially if you have a good one and Hull certainly have one in Jacob Greaves.

The 6ft 4in defender is attracting admiring glances from both Everton and Spurs and a few others, Everton will need to sell Jarrad Branthwaite this summer to avoid further potential financial breaches, so Greaves fit to replace it.

United have been linked with Branthwaite for between £60m-£75m depending on what you read, so wouldn’t it make more sense to go for the guy Everton want to replace? Manchester United have enjoyed a long transfer saga that has been golden for content creators and journalists, but demoralizing for fans, so will Sir Jim Ratcliffe opt for a smarter approach? Here is the hope.

The defender has already made 200 appearances so far in his career and United may be hoping his career mirrors that of current United defender Harry Maguire, who also played for Hull before moving to Leicester before joining United.

Greaves has all the qualities his stature would suggest, big and physical, but also uses the ball very well. It would be extremely easy to draw comparisons with Maguire because of his size and use of the ball at times, but Greaves has a good understanding of the game and reads it well, which he will need when he steps up.

Hull won’t make it easy for a club to try and buy him, nor should they, but United could spend less than half what they could on Branthwaite and still get a talented player out of it.

Also the last time in my lifetime United bought a left footed English centre-back good on the ball was Gary Pallister and if he’s half as good United will be in for a bargain.

Now all these players are not ready to start week in week out for United, they are not proven at Premier League level. If they are bought and given time and patience to mature then I see no reason why they cannot succeed at the highest level for United in the new Sir Jim Ratcliffe era.

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