Manchester United’s surprising number of loanees shows shift in youth development strategy

As it stands, Erik ten Hag has sanctioned the loan departure of just one player this summer: Will Fish to Hibernian. Around this time last season, United had allowed six players out on loan.

By May 2023, 17 United players found themselves on temporary deals elsewhere. It is unclear whether further loan moves for youth players will happen in the coming weeks.

But should the situation remain relatively similar, it would mark a definite shift in strategy at Carrington, with the ultimate goal being a clearer pathway to the first team. Ten Hag’s desire for a top-down teaching of strategy and tactics looks as though it is being implemented with this approach following his sophomore season in charge of United.

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Much like the Ajax model he headed for five-and-a-half fruitful years in Amsterdam, the idea is that youth players are taught to play in the exact same way as the first-teamers. It is hoped that, with this method, the young players are much better equipped to step into the fold when needed.

Speaking to The Mirror last year, Ten Hag outlined the situation he encountered when joining United in Summer 2022. He said: "For me, cooperation between all the different departments is crucial to get the right culture in a club. Like at Ajax, when I entered Manchester United the reserve team was isolated.

"[The Reserve team] was no longer really part of the academy, but it wasn’t part of the first team either. I changed that immediately - just as I did when I entered Amsterdam.

Ten Hag believes