According to The Sun, Manchester United are plotting a deal to sign Charlie McNeil. The Manchester City youngster has attracted some attention following his performances in the youth competitions, with the Red Devils ready to sanction a £750,000 swoop. He is, in fact, closing in on a move to Old Trafford, having already rejected a professional contract at Etihad.
Who is Dwight McNeil?
A centre forward by trade, McNeil has become a subject of headlines this summer due to his incredible performances in the youth competitions. He has, in fact, netted more than 600 goals in the lower youth levels, making him one of the most in-demand youngsters in English football.
McNeil initially had to move to Manchester City in order to prosper at an early age. However, he is an avid Manchester United fan, who has impressed the onlookers with his prolific goalscoring prowess. His tally in the youth level speaks for themselves.
As far as gameplay is concerned, McNeil is a pacy striker, who relies on his technical skill and dribbling to drift past opposing defenders. He is aware of his surroundings and like any modern-day centre-forward, he is capable of carrying the ball in the final third as well as linking up play with his teammates.
Moreover, McNeil’s pace makes him a scourge for the opposition on the counter. It is complemented by predatory scoring instincts that help him sniff goalscoring opportunities. Hence, he is indeed the real deal in the attack.
Highlights of England's win including #ManCity Charlie McNeil goalhttps://t.co/m57uldW8i9
— MCFCReserves&Academy (@MCFC_EDS_ACAD) January 15, 2019
A Huge Loss For Manchester City
McNeil’s potential move to Manchester United doesn’t bode well for Manchester City at all. The Sky Blues have a world-class youth development program, overseen by some of the game’s greats.
Unfortunately, very few academy players have managed to make their breakthrough into the City starting lineup. Especially in recent years, only Phil Foden has gained any sort of relevancy at the highest level of football.
Manchester City’s quality in depth has already forced talented stars like Jadon Sancho to leave the club in the past and in Charlie McNeil, coach Pep Guardiola is facing a similar situation here.
As mentioned earlier, the 17-year-old has shown immense potential in youth competitions and with Sergio Aguero nearing the final phase of his career, McNeil might have been an excellent academy option to replace the Argentine superstar within the coming years.
Instead, the youngster is on the verge of a switch to Manchester United reserve team, where he will have an excellent chance to emerge as a first-team option for Solskajer, whose footballing philosophy revolves around young, homegrown players.
