Manchester United fans tell Erik ten Hag which academy player should be promoted

Manchester United supporters have identified Alejandro Garnacho as the academy product they are most excited to see next season.

The 17-year-old has had a memorable year, having made his first two senior appearances and lifted the FA Youth Cup after scoring two in the final in front of a near-capacity Old Trafford. The Argentine has been tipped for a very bright future.

More than half (55 per cent) of the 4,700 United fans who voted in a Manchester Evening News poll picked him as the youngster they are most keen to see. Garnacho is backed to edge into Erik ten Hag’s squad next campaign in what is set to be a big year for the Under-18s player of the year.

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Hannibal Mejbri came in at second with 25 per cent of the vote ahead of Under-23s player of the year Alvaro Fernandez in third (9.2 per cent). United fans are also very happy with the academy system as a whole with 75 per cent agreeing that its service has been either ‘good’ or ‘excellent’.

Meanwhile, 47 per cent of voters said they wished to see better first team performances over anything else next season. This includes a better league position (33 per cent) and winning a trophy (19 per cent).

Finally, most United supporters (57 per cent) want a capacity expansion of Old Trafford as opposed to demolishing it and starting with a new build or keeping it how it is with tidying up touches. Development proposals are already in the pipeline with the planners who constructed the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium spearheading the work.

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