Manchester United's history-making player must be close to January transfer window exit

Ethan Wheatley made his Manchester United senior debut against Sheffield United in April. Wheatley wrote himself into the club's history books by becoming the 250th player from the academy to make a senior bow but he will want to be remembered for more than that.

Wheatley started for the Under-19s against AZ Alkmaar in the UEFA Youth League on Tuesday and his next steps must have crossed his mind as he entered an almost empty Old Trafford. Around 300 supporters braved the cold to attend the game and Wheatley was the only youngster on the pitch who knows what playing in front of a sold-out Old Trafford feels like.

Wheatley will want more of that feeling. Playing at Old Trafford is special regardless, but performing in front of a sell-out crowd is a unique opportunity for academy players and Wheatley might have to push for a loan in the January transfer window to continue making inroads to the first-team.

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Ruben Amorim wasn't among the United club staff who attended Old Trafford and a source has admitted he's not had a chance to watch an academy fixture due to his busy schedule. The presence of Amorim would have given Wheatley an added incentive to impress against AZ but his reputation remains high among academy coaches following a promising 2024.

Wheatley also didn't have too much to feed off against AZ. The Dutch side flew out of the traps and created two great chances within the first few minutes, but the game settled into a steady rhythm and United's best chance of the first 45 minutes fell to the head of Amir Ibragimov.

For context, Ibragimov has heart in abundance but was the