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Manchester United is a club known to many as one that gives the youth a lot of chance. From Sir Alex Ferguson to Louis van Gaal, the club has always promoted youth talent and discovered many stars in the process. It is given that the team which Mourinho is forming will surely be filled with many academy graduates. Here are five players who could make the cut of they continue their progression.
#5 Axel Tuanzebe
Axel Tuanzebe is a local lad and will always have the Old Trafford faithful on his side in the years to come. He is highly rated by Jose Mourinho who wanted to have him in his squad instead of buying a new defender at the start of the season when Rojo, Bailly, and Shaw were out injured. Tuanzebe is currently on loan at Aston Villa, trying to help them gain promotion back into the Premier League.
Central defence has been one issue that Mourinho is desperately trying to fix. His current crop of defenders have not put in commanding performances to assert their claim to be regulars in the first team. This opens up a huge window for Tuanzebe to claim a regular starting spot and replace either Jones or Smalling.
#4 Timothy Fosu-Mensah
Fosu-Mensah was brought to the club from Ajax by Louis van Gaal when he was in charge of Manchester United. Since then he has gone from strength to strength and was on the verge of breaking into the first team when Jose Mourinho took over.
The immense competition for places limited his playing time and hence Mourinho decided to loan him to Premier League side Crystal Palace until the end of this season. He has been performing really well and his stellar performance against Manchester City was appreciated by all.
Mourinho needs someone as back up to Antonio Valencia next season as the Ecuadorian will turn 33 this year and cannot feature in all the games. Mourinho will surely be considering him for the backup role instead of looking at the transfer market for next season.
#3 Tahith Chong
Tahith Chong has emerged as the latest prodigy in the United youth set-up after he was signed for United in 2016 from Feyenoord. The 18-year-old got significant praise following an eye-catching debut for the U23 side against Tottenham on Monday night. United may have lost 3-1 but Chong was outstanding in central midfield, bringing an empty Old Trafford to life with his dribbling, neat touches and impressive finishing.
With Fellaini seemingly out of the first team picture for the time being and with new contract talks put on hold, Tahith Chong has a really good chance of making it if he continues to do well and performs well in the upcoming preseason games. Although it is not given that he will feature as it is more likely Mourinho will buy a new midfielder, but he will be in and around the first team next year, but will surely a force to reckon with in the future.
#2 Angel Gomes
The latest attacking sensation from the Manchester United youth set up after Marcus Rashford is definitely Angel Gomes. Gomes also signed his first professional contract at Old Trafford in December, has made one appearance for the Red Devils in the Premier League. His cameo in the Fourth round of the FA Cup was shared all over social media and got all the fans excited about seeing Gomes in the future.
Angel Gomes has done really well, but it a huge doubt whether he will feature for the Red Devils regularly next season as United have many attacking options. He could, however, be used as an understudy to Alexis Sanchez and substitute him in certain games. He could possibly keep learning from the Chilean until Gomes is ready to take over from him in a few years' time.
#1 Andreas Pereira
Andreas Pereira is the most experienced of the lot after good loan moves to Granada and other championship clubs and he is currently now at Valencia playing in the first team week in and week out and has played against the likes of Messi and Ronaldo. Jose Mourinho even wanted him to stay, but the Brazilian wanted to play regularly and opted to move to Spain on loan and is currently very successful.
Among the entire crop of youngsters in this list, Andreas Perreira has a very good chance of featuring in the Manchester United first team regularly. With midfield a huge problem for United, Pereira could seamlessly slot in and play anywhere in midfield. The best part is that he still does not have a preferred position and plays well at anywhere he is asked to play. Mourinho could mould him in any way he wants him to play.
