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Manchester United’s phenomenal win over Manchester City in the FA Cup final at Wembley was chiefly engineered by their midfield.
Kobbie Mainoo attracted the majority of the headlines for his cool finish to double Man United’s lead in the first half. Meanwhile, Bruno Fernandes amazed fans and pundits alike with his sublime no-look assist while Sofyan Amrabat played an equally crucial role in his side’s win as the defensive midfielder.
Before jumping into the transfer market, INEOS should take note of the players’ performance and recognise that a strong midfield could shape the trajectory of United’s upcoming season, regardless of who is on the touchline.
In that regard, United have already started working on strengthening their midfield options.
According to Football Insider, the Red Devils are among the clubs “chasing” Birmingham City midfield talent Menzi Mazwi, who is out of contract this summer.
Mazwi, 18, plays as an attacking midfielder. Despite having not made a senior appearance yet, he is considered a highly-rated prospect.
Birmingham are keen on extending his stay at the club, having offered a three-year professional deal. However, since they got relegated to League One, an exit could be on the cards with the player having greater ambitions.
Mazwi is keeping his options open amid interest from United, Chelsea, and Tottenham Hotspur. He is also believed to be on Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig’s radar.
His tricky contract situation and potential availability have led to serious interest from the Premier League, as his suitors would be able to sign him for a compensation fee that could reportedly be as low as £300,000.
Needless to say, even if Mazwi joins United, it is highly unlikely he will feature in Erik ten Hag’s squad anytime soon. Should INEOS sign him, Mazwi may find himself in the club’s youth setup in order to continue his development.
However, the rise of Mainoo, Garnacho, and Kambwala under Ten Hag is a stark reminder for academy talents that the doors of the first team are never too far for worthy prospects.
Much was made of Ten Hag’s conversation with Mainoo after United’s League Cup win over Newcastle. A year later, the academy midfielder has established himself as a regular starter.
After the final whistle against City, fans noticed Ten Hag embracing Toby Collyer in the same manner. The young defensive midfielder moved to United from Brighton and Hove Albion in 2022. He is certainly one to watch ahead of this summer’s pre-season.
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