4 of Man Utd's potential breakout stars of 2024/25 season
- Man Utd have several promising youngsters to watch out for
- Amad Diallo has a strong chance to start hitting his potential
- Three academy graduates are now added to first-team squad
Manchester United need a big season in 2024/25, looking to capitalise on the high of winning the FA Cup in May following a disappointing Premier League campaign.
Investments in the squad have been made, including 18-year-old centre-back prodigy Leny Yoro, to equip Erik ten Hag with a group that should be capable of returning to the all-important top four and the Champions League. Sadly for Yoro, a pre-season injury means he may not play for a while.
Young players are part of the fabric at United, whether those who have come through the academy ranks or signed early in their professional career to develop. Ten Hag has already bought into that culture, having known something quite similar at former club Ajax.
Emerging talents should therefore have a role to play as the season gets underway and these are four potential breakout stars to watch out for in 2024/25...
Amad Diallo
United supporters and fans of other clubs obviously know who Amad Diallo is by now. He's already been at Old Trafford for over three and a half years since a transfer from Atalanta worth up to £37m, while last season's FA Cup winner against Liverpool will live long in the memory. But the Ivorian, only recently 22, is yet to properly establish himself. Now could be his chance.
After a pre-season knee injury forced him to miss the first half of last season, Amad's decisive impact against Liverpool seemed a bit of a catalyst as it wasn't long afterwards that he was regularly coming off the bench in the Premier League, followed by a first Premier League start for three years in May.
Amad was routinely getting the nod from Ten Hag to start in pre-season and kept his place over Anthony and Jadon Sancho for the Community Shield. He looked sharp at Wembley, making seveal surging runs through the Manchester City defence that just needed a slightly better end product.
Based on the last few months, there is every reason to believe chances will come his way and, as long he stays fit, Amad could yet prove to be a key player in 2024/25 and beyond.
Harry Amass
Some considered it a surprise that 17-year-old left-back Harry Amass was not part of the squad that Ten Hag took to Wembley for the Community Shield. The youngster had often been on the bench towards the end of last season and featured during pre-season, while the United boss didn't name any other defenders beyond the four that started the game.
Ten Hag is reported to have prioritised giving minutes to senior players ahead of the Premier League opener, but it doesn't mean that Amass isn't an important part of the picture moving forward.
He will now wear number 41, as opposed to 70 last season, and could be well placed to capitalise if Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia suffer any further fitness issues. Shaw, himself once a teen prodigy, has publicly stated his admiration of the youngster's talent and potential.
Ethan Wheatley
Teenage striker Ethan Wheatley made headlines towards the end of last season when he became the club's landmark 250th academy player to feature for the first-team. His momentum has since continued with the experience of a senior pre-season and a new first-team squad number: 36.
Stockport-born Wheatley was playing in the Under-18 Premier League at the start of last season, so his rise has been pretty rapid. But Ten Hag is known for his work with young talent and won't hesitate to hand out first-team opportunities if he deems players worthy of them.
United still aren't flush with striker options given that Rasmus Hojlund has started the season with an injury, which could be the chance for Wheatley to impress. He also happens to fill out a very similar physical frame to both Hojlund and new signing Joshua Zirkzee.
Toby Collyer
From the 250th academy graduate to debut for the first-team, to the 251st. Toby Collyer got that honour in the Community Shield, playing the final half hour plus stoppage time at Wembley after replacing Kobbie Mainoo, who serves as huge inspiration to any emerging talent.
20-year-old Collyer had earlier been selected for the pre-season tour of the United States and was handed invaluable minutes on the pitch. He, along with Amass and Wheatley, has since been added to the first-team squad list on the club's official website, suggesting a role to play.
United officials are clearly impressed with the midfielder's development as he signed a new contract until 2027, with an option until 2028, last month.
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