Manchester United have a long history of promoting talents who go on to star for the first-team, and now the next one up has been identified.
The Manchester United academy is one of the best in the world and regularly produces the goods for the senior squad. Throughout the club’s history, the academy has been vital and led to multiple trophy lifts.
The Class of ’92 are the most notable, while more recently Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo have all emerged and became mainstays and stars for the club.
The next generation also looks set to produce a handful of players who make it, with the U18s winning the treble with several standout performers, including Ethan Wheatley who debuted toward the end of the season.
Now, it’s been reported who United view as the next one up, and he’s yet to even make his debut.
Manchester United view Toby Collyer as having first-team potential
Manchester United are under Ineos rule for the first time this summer and Sir Jim Ratcliffe is keen to avoid spending recklessly in the transfer market.
In a report by The Telegraph, it’s explained that whoever the manager is next season will be expected to utilise the academy.
It goes on to then state that right now United views Toby Collyer as the next prospect who can make the jump to senior football and become a first-team star.
This wouldn’t come as a surprise as he’s been used on the bench regularly during the final months of the season, despite not making his debut just yet.
Erik ten Hag has already hinted at this after he was spotted replicating a famous 2023 moment with Collyer during the FA Cup final celebrations.
Collyer could be handed a huge opportunity this summer
Given he’s now a part of the first-team squad, it’d be a safe bet to assume Collyer will be heading to the USA on this summer’s pre-season tour.
On the tour, Collyer could actually be handed a huge opportunity to impress Ten Hag with midfield options set to be stretched.
Mainoo is likely to be absent as he’ll be at the Euros with England, a competition in which they’re tipped to go all the way in. While Scott McTominay will be with Scotland, although they might not go as far.
Meanwhile, Casemiro and Christian Eriksen could potentially have been sold by this point as both are on the shortlist to leave.
So with this being the case, Collyer might get a few games to earn his spot and prove the club right for viewing him as having first-team potential.