Manchester United fans are eager for new additions in the January transfer window, but a potential departure could help them to unearth a future first-team star.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has a big decision to make when it comes to the next few weeks as he looks to balance his injury stricken first-team squad with the futures of the club's brightest young talent.
Injuries to Paul Pogba and Scott McTominay leave United incredibly light in the central midfield department and there could be solutions at the club in the likes of James Garner and Dylan Levitt.
The young duo have both impressed in the first-team this season and while many fans will be eager for them to return to senior action imminently, a move away might be the best solution.
Solskjaer might be tempted to call upon one against Norwich this weekend and Garner appears to be further along in his development than Levitt at the time of writing.
However, that could be the perfect scenario for Levitt as he faces a pivotal six months in his fledgling United career.
The club's loan boss, Les Parry, whose official title is academy player performance manager, admitted as many as five players could leave the club over the coming month.
“We’ll plan it out and we’ve identified four or five who might be going out in January. Obviously, our first-team manager has a say," Parry told United's official website.
Although many supporters will be hoping Levitt builds upon his maiden senior appearance in the coming years a loan to League One or the Championship could be the ideal springboard for his career in the short-term.
Not only would an increased period of game time help develop the 19-year-old as a player, but it could also give himself the platform to establish himself as a guaranteed squad member for Wales' Euro 2020 campaign in the summer.
Ryan Giggs has regularly called upon Levitt to form part of his recent Wales squad's but his place in the final 23-man squad is far from assured heading into the second-half of the season.
Levitt was battling both Joe Morrell and Will Vaulks for a place in the latest international squad, but Matthew Smith, Jonny Williams and the returning David Brooks could all reduce his chances even further.
With the next international break in March it is crucial Levitt plays regular football to bolster his hopes of a call-up, and in turn, play a part in a major tournament which could launch his career to new heights.
Levitt would still be deserving of another chance at United before the end of the season, but his best hopes might come with a temporary move away from Old Trafford.
