Manchester United youngster Ethan Laird is on the brink of a season-long loan move to Swansea City.
The 20-year-old right-back, who shone during a half-season with MK Dons last term, looks set to reunite with his former manager Russell Martin, who has taken over at Swansea.
MEN Sport understands the Swans are big admirers of Laird and Martin deems him ready to step up to Championship football this season. Swansea sources expect the deal to be done this week.
Laird would join United teammates Tahith Chong, Axel Tuanzebe and Facundo Pellistri in sealing a loan exit this summer, with Teden Mengi likely to join Laird and Chong in the Championship, as Derby prepare to move for the centre-back.
Basingstoke-born Laird made his senior United debut in the 2019/20 season, featuring in the Europa League games against Astana and AZ Alkmaar, though has suffered his fair share of injury issues already in his career.
He was boosted by an impressive 24-game stint under Martin at Milton Keynes last season, holding down an attacking right wing-back berth.
Laird has two more years to run on his Old Trafford contract, but his chances of game time in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's first team for the coming campaign looked slim.
United are targeting Kieran Trippier for extra depth at right-back, while Diogo Dalot could remain in the squad after coming back from a year on loan at AC Milan. The MEN reported today (Monday) that United are open to the idea of keeping Dalot, amid interest from Milan in a second loan. Aaron Wan-Bissaka has been cemented as the first choice in the position since his summer 2019 arrival from Crystal Palace.
Laird wasn't involved in United's pre-season games as he was recovering from a niggling injury issue, but could be fit to slot straight into Martin's Swansea team. They were beaten 2-1 away at Blackburn in their season opener on Saturday.
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