Manchester United's tradition of developing talented youngsters and promoting them to the first-team looks set to continue with the amount of promising stars currently plying their trade in the youth set up.
This season alone has seen Charlie Savage and Zidane Iqbal make their senior debuts in the UEFA Champions League under interim boss Ralf Rangnick and both have continued to develop with the under 23 side as they look to develop further. While Anthony Elanga has become the next Carrington Academy graduate to make the step up from youth team to senior level with ease.
Hannibal Mejbri is another player destined to become a first-team regular after being promoted to first-team training earlier this season. But below the aforementioned group of players are the next batch of stars ready to make jump to the first team sooner rather than later.
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With United still on the search for the next permanent manager, one of their lists in their inbox will be to figure out where and how the Red Devil's squad can be improved and will no doubt see them dip their toes into the transfer market to fill their needs. But by looking in-house, United can not only save themselves millions of pounds in transfers and wages fees but also find potential starters or rotation pieces who already have familiarity with not only English football but the United way of playing.
Here the MEN looks at four players United can promote to the first-team next season.
Teden Mengi
The United young centre-back has been in and around the first-team for a number of years and spent the second half of last season on loan with Derby Country under the watchful eye of Wayne Rooney. A second loan with Derby was on the cards but collapsed to due the transfer and financial turmoil the Championship club were under at the time.
Having made his senior debut back in 2020 in the UEFA Europa League, Mengi has somewhat stagnated under the challenge of adult football. But still only 19, there's plenty of room for improvement for a player that has the physical and raw tools to be a future star at the heart of United's defence.
Currently on loan with Birmingham City, United are screaming out for a centreback with the recent struggles of Harry Maguire and the inability of Victor Lindelof, Eric Bailly and now Raphael Varane to stay fit. Mengi has a chance to impress the next manager in pre-season and win a starting job in defence.
Alvaro Fernandez
Neither Luke Shaw or Alex Telles has been able to stamp their authority on the starting left-back position. Both have their skills but also their flaws and Alvaro Fernandez has the ability to come in and make the position his own.
Signed from Real Madrid as a 16-year-old, Fernandez has come on leaps and bounds and has progressed through the United academy at a blistering pace, now featuring for the under-23 team at only 18. The Spaniard does not look out of place at that level and his marauding runs and delivery has seen him notch up a handful of assists.
Turning 19 this week, Fernandez has the traits of a modern full back going forward to establish himself as United's first-choice left back in the near future. Though he still has some improvements to be made defensively, United should look to promote him to the first team and use him from the bench and start him in cup competitions before making the transition as a first-team full-time over the next 18 months.
James Garner
There's an argument to be made that James Garner should have been given a fair chance in United's first team this season given the lack of options at central midfield. However, the decision was made to send the 21-year-old back out on loan to Nottingham Forest to continue his development.
After a slow start, Garner has once again come into his own in the Championship and looks like a player ready to make the step up to the Premier League. What gives that argument credibility is Garner's performance in the FA Cup against Premier League opposition in Arsenal and Liverpool.
Forest knocked out Arsenal in a game in which Garner looked right at home against Premier League opposition and the English midfielder once again put in a terrific display against Jurgen Klopp's side in the quarter-finals which left former United captain Roy Keane thoroughly impressed by his performance.
Alejandro Garnacho
A call up to the Argentinian senior squad at just 17 is a sign of just how special Alejandro Garnacho is. The striker has scored a number of impressive goals for both the under-18 and under-23 team this season which has alerted his national side to his abilities.
Yet to make his senior debut for United, Garnacho looks destined to make a splash on the big stage sooner rather than later. With Edinson Cavani leaving in the summer and Cristiano Ronaldo not getting any younger, there is a gaping hole up front for United and they will look to fill it immediately.
While Garnacho still has some developing to do, his eye for goal and movement off the ball would not look out of place in the Premier League going forward. United have a rich history and tradition of giving promising players their first-team debut on the last day of the season and the Argentinian could follow in their footsteps in May.
While a loan next season may tempt the next United manager, United's lack of options in the striking department could fast-track him into the first team similar to Marcus Rashford and Garnacho could prove to be the next United superstar if given a chance over the next 12 months.
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