Senegalese sensation Mouhamed Dabo is close to signing for Manchester United
The next big move for Manchester United might not be for a global superstar but for a 17-year-old from Senegal. Mouhamed Dabo, captain of his country’s under-17 side, has caught the eye of United scouts after a standout trial period at Carrington.
The club’s preparing an offer to bring him into their academy setup, viewing him as a long-term project for the first team. That is as per Fabrizio Romano via Twitter. He’s primarily a central midfielder who can put in shifts at defensive midfield too.
His recent success at the UFOA-A U17 tournament, where Senegal beat Mali on penalties, only strengthened his reputation as one of West Africa’s brightest midfield prospects. Though Barcelona also showed a lot interest in getting the player on board, United’s projects and offer impressed the player and his representatives much more. [h/t One Football]
Positive Impact!
The club has made a deliberate shift toward identifying high-ceiling young talents who can transition into senior football through the right pathway which is something that has seen visible results in the last two years. Credit to that has to go to youth setup and DoF Jason Wilcox.
The likes of Kobbie, Dan Gore, Willy Kambwala, Omari Forson and Ethan Wheatley are among the top talents who have grown strength to strength from the youth setup towards regular first-team action. Add to that Alejandro Garnacho too, who is now with Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea.
Dabo could be the next in line. Those who’ve seen him play describe him as a blend of technical intelligence and raw physicality. The kind of midfielder who can dictate tempo but also win back possession. For a manager like Amorim, who values energy and control in equal measure, he’s exactly the type of player United want to develop in-house rather than buy for a premium later on.
Of course, at 17, the focus will be on settling him in and giving him time. United’s academy, now boasting a stronger connection to the senior setup, is well equipped for that. If the deal goes through, it might be a significant coup for the Red Devils.