Manchester United still keen on landing 18-year-old wonderkid

Manchester United still keen on landing 18-year-old wonderkid Manchester United Still in Louis Page Transfer Talks After Deadline Day Manchester United’s summer window may have closed without a late flourish, but the Louis Page story has not gone away. According to Standard, United remain in discussions with Leicester City over the 18-year-old midfielder after a Deadline Day move collapsed. That matters, because this was not some random last-minute call. Page had emerged as a genuine target in the final hours of the window, and the fact talks are still active suggests United see something worth pursuing. The broad outline is simple enough. Leicester wanted a deal north of the £12.5m package they banked from Jeremy Monga’s move to Manchester City, while there were also differences over add-ons and payment terms. In other words, the usual transfer friction, not a total breakdown. Page then went and played 90 minutes in Leicester’s 2-0 win over Plymouth Argyle on the same night, setting up the opener. That only sharpened the sense that Leicester are dealing with a player already trusted in senior football, not a speculative academy punt. Photo IMAGO Louis Page Deal Still Makes Sense The key point is that United have not walked away. Reports suggest Page wants the move, and Leicester had expected him to return on loan for the season if the transfer had been completed. That is often how these deals are stitched together, buy the talent, leave the development path intact, then reassess. For United, this would fit a broader recruitment line. Michael Carrick has already added Carlos Baleba, Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans this summer, and the club clearly believe the midfield needed more quality and depth. Whether Page would go straight into the first-team environment or start with one of the academy groups remains open, but regular League One football at 18 is relevant evidence. IMAGO | Anfield Index Michael Carrick and United Transfer Picture Deadline Day itself was quiet. United did not force a late defensive signing, and a loan approach from Everton for Joshua Zirkzee was turned away. Carrick’s message last week was clear: “We went into the window wanting to come out stronger from the group we had last season and we have definitely added to that,” and, “Certainly, the players we have brought into the group absolutely delighted with, think we have done some really good business.” If United still push for Page, it will say plenty. This is a club trying to clean up its decision-making, and a deal kept alive after the deadline usually means the interest is real. Our View From a hopeful Manchester United perspective, this is the sort of move that should be encouraged. Not because Louis Page is guaranteed to explode into the first team tomorrow, but because United have spent too many years ignoring sensible squad-building while chasing shortcuts. Page sounds like a modern recruitment play, young, already exposed to senior football, and available at a price that is significant but hardly reckless in the current market. If the disagreement really comes down to add-ons and payment structure, then there is no reason to panic. Those are negotiable details, and smart clubs work through them. There is also something reassuring about the player reportedly being keen on the move. United still need footballers who actively want the badge, the pressure and the expectation. That should never be treated as a small detail. The bigger picture matters too. Carrick has already strengthened midfield, and that should reduce the temptation to throw Page into situations before he is ready. If he signs and goes back on loan, good. If he joins the wider first-team set-up, also fine. The important thing is having a clear development plan, something United have often lacked. No one should pretend this is a headline-grabbing blockbuster. It is better than that. It looks like a thoughtful bit of business, and United need more of those. Source: Standard