Manchester United have launched an ambitious blueprint to win their 21st top-flight title within the next three years and stay clear of Liverpool in the record books.
The project, titled ‘Mission 21’, is part of a wider ‘Project 150’ initiative coinciding with United’s 150th anniversary in 2028, and was unveiled to staff by Sir Dave Brailsford, who is on the club’s football board and is Ineos director of sport.
The former British Cycling supremo’s plan involves scouring the world for the stars of the future, buying youngsters with potential and developing them into world-class talents, rather than throwing money at established players.
United lead the way with 20 top-flight titles but Liverpool look primed to match them this season, sitting six points clear at the top with a game in hand.
Sir Alex Ferguson famously made it his goal to overhaul the Reds, and ‘knock them off their perch’ – taking United from 11 titles behind their rivals to two in front when he retired. But 2013 remains the club’s last success and the race is on.
Here, our European football expert TOM COLLOMOSSE looks at 14 wonderkids they could bring in to make those dreams a reality, including one new arrival at Old Trafford who already fits the bill.
1. SVERRE NYPAN
Age: 18 Club: Rosenborg Country: Norway Position: Central midfielder
Norway’s two finest football exports, Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard, represent England’s two strongest clubs – but their heir apparent has eyes only for another Premier League giant.
‘It would be a dream come true to play for Manchester United,’ the 6ft midfielder told the United Norway podcast. ‘But I am quite adamant I don’t want to open that door yet.
Sverre Nypan could be the latest Norwegian superstar to take the Premier League by storm
Nypan came up against his boyhood club last summer during a friendly in Trondheim
‘Nypan is a truly generational talent,’ an experienced Norwegian scout told Mail Sport. ‘If he continues to play like this, it’s very likely he’ll move within a year.
There will be plenty of competition for Nypan, with Manchester City, Arsenal and Aston Villa showing strong interest in him in January. If he follows his heart, though, there can be only one winner.
2. CONRAD HARDER
Age: 19 Club: Sporting Lisbon Country: Denmark Position: Forward
When scouting strikers, analysts will always look at shot volume – how many times a player strikes for goal per 90 minutes.
For context, Lionel Messi has taken aim 5.10 times per match on average across his career, Cristiano Ronaldo 5.61, Sergio Aguero 4.41 and Robert Lewandowski 4.30.
After 46 senior games recorded by stats gurus FBRef StatHead, Harder’s ratio is an astonishing 5.18. It is a small sample size, he has been playing for Sporting only this season and the number will inevitably drop.
Conrad Harder scored his first Champions League goal last week, in a 1-1 draw with Bologna
Sporting identified Harder knowing that Viktor Gyokeres is likely to leave this summer
But he is certainly worth following – especially as market wizards Brighton, who excel in identifying young talent, are also interested in him.
The best clubs understand long in advance when they might have to sell their top players. Realising Viktor Gyokeres would probably leave this summer, Sporting brought in Harder 12 months earlier.
But Harder is progressing so quickly that he might catch even the Portuguese champions on the hop.
3. ROONY BARDGHJI
Age: 19 Club: Copenhagen Country: Sweden Position: Winger
The man with the memorable name scored a memorable 87th-minute winning goal against United in the Champions League last year.
But his progress has been halted by a serious knee injury that is likely to keep him out until next spring.
Roony Bardghji scored the winning goal for Copenhagen against Man United last season
Kuwait-born Bardghji’s contract expires in December and he is on the books of one of the world’s leading agencies.
There is no doubting the talent, but it all depends now on how Bardghji plays when he returns.
4. MANDELA KEITA
Age: 22 Club: Parma Country: Belgium Position: Midfielder
Put yourself in Mandela Keita’s shoes. You make a £10million move to Parma and make your debut 10 minutes into the second half of a Serie A fixture at Udinese.
Less than 20 minutes later, you’re shown a second yellow card and given an early bath.
It is all part of the learning process for a defensive midfielder who has been on Premier League radars for some time.
Keita, who wears ‘Mandela’ on his shirt, is a classic No 6 – quick, agile, athletic, and strong in duels.
Mandela Keita is a classic No 6 and has long been on the radar of Premier League clubs
Keita’s side have struggled this season but he has been one of their few shining lights
‘My mum chose the name Mandela,’ said Keita, who is of Guinean descent and was born in Leuven, Belgium.
‘She brought me up on her own. She always told me never to surrender, like Nelson Mandela.’
Parma is the perfect spot for Keita. They trust young players and play a progressive game, meaning his defensive skills will be tested.
As a newly promoted side, they have faced tough times this season, and currently sit a point adrift of safety in Serie A. If Keita can pass this test, it will convince stronger clubs he can take the next step.
5. KENAN YILDIZ
Age: 19 Club: Juventus Country: Turkey Position: Attacking midfield/winger
In the post-Cristiano Ronaldo era, Juventus decided to do what United have now turned to, and focus heavily on younger players.
They would try to sign the best talent around, develop those players in their Next Gen squad – which competes in Italy’s third tier – and move the best ones into the first-team group.
The benefit was obvious: by having these players early, Juve could coach them exactly how they wanted.
Kenan Yildiz is the poster boy for Juventus’ new policy of buying the best young players
Juventus could do with the financial help and have a player on their hands worth £100million
And if ever they needed to sell, they could do so for substantial profit. Pretty handy for a club who in early November announced losses of £165m.
They won’t get every one right but Yildiz is the poster boy for the new policy. The Turk’s rise meant Juve were happy to sell Federico Chiesa to Liverpool last summer.
If Yildiz progresses at his current rate, Juve are looking at a player worth £100m-plus.
6. SAMU AGHEHOWA
Age: 20 Club: Porto Country: Spain Position: Forward
He recently changed his surname from ‘Omorodion’ to ‘Aghehowa’ to honour his mother and now has ‘Samu. A’ on the back of his shirt.
However he wishes to be addressed, the Porto man’s performances are making him known across Europe.
Chelsea came close to signing Samu last summer as part of the deal that took Conor Gallagher to Atletico Madrid, only for that transfer to collapse at the 11th hour.
Gallagher still moved to Spain but Joao Felix, rather than Samu, ended up at Stamford Bridge.
Samu has 18 goals in 25 games for Porto this season and is already worth far more than the £12.5million the Portuguese club paid for him last summer
The forward scored twice in Porto’s 3-3 draw with United in October in the Europa League
Samu switched instead to Porto for £12.5million and Chelsea’s loss has been the Portuguese giants’ gain.
Samu tore Manchester United apart in their Europa League meeting in October and made his senior international debut for Spain this week.
He has 18 goals in 25 matches for Porto this term, averaging more than three shots per game – usually of high quality.
One day Chelsea may get their man but they will face fearsome competition next time.
7. RODRIGO MORA
Age: 17 Club: Porto Country: Portugal Position: Attacking midfielder
First the good news: When Mora made his first-team debut for Porto in a Europa League tie at Bodo Glimt last September, he became the second-youngest player to appear for the Dragons in European competition.
Now the bad news: the youngest is Fabio Silva, who is probably the biggest transfer flop in Wolves’ history and is now trying to get his career going at Spanish club Las Palmas – with some success, it has to be said.
He is proof, however, that teenage success does not always lead to an elite career.
Those who have followed Mora since childhood are not surprised at his rise – but the man himself is.
Rodrigo Mora became the second-youngest player to appear for Porto in Europe, in September
He has three goals in 17 games this season for Porto and is into Portugal’s Under 21s set-up
‘I wasn’t prepared for this,’ he has admitted. ‘I didn’t think I would reach professional football so soon.’
Even though Portugal lost in the final of the European Under 17 Championship to Italy, Mora was still crowned player of the tournament.
When you can create and score like he can, the goal must be to win the real thing one day.
He has three goals for Porto’s senior team this season in 17 games and has been capped twice by his country’s Under 21s.
8. GEOVANY QUENDA
Age: 17 Club: Sporting Lisbon Country: Portugal Position: Winger
Every year they appear. Players few had heard of in the summer, linked with some of the world’s biggest clubs a few months later thanks to an electric start to their senior career.
While some prosper, many fall by the wayside – so it pays to be cautious. There are reasons to be excited about Quenda, however.
The left-footed winger is a pacy, daring dribbler who can beat his full back on either side, and he also has an eye for a pass.
He has thrived on the right of Ruben Amorim’s 3-4-3 system and it is not too much of a stretch to see the pair working together again at Old Trafford.
Geovany Quenda has experienced Ruben Amorim’s 3-4-3 system before at Sporting Lisbon
Quenda was snapped up aged 13 after a misunderstanding with his former club Benfica
Benfica do not miss much when it comes to young players but they lost Quenda to their Lisbon rivals when he was 13, apparently due to a misunderstanding over whether Quenda would be offered permanent residence at their academy.
Sporting capitalised immediately and signed Quenda up.
Would the Premier League be too much, too soon? People thought the same when another teenage winger moved from Sporting to United in 2003.
In the end, Cristiano Ronaldo didn’t do too badly.
9. OUSMANE DIOMANDE
Age: 20 Club: Sporting Lisbon Position: Centre back Country: Ivory Coast
What is it with Sporting and centre backs? Belgian star Zeno Debast, 21, is a top prospect, while Goncalo Inacio is slightly too old to make this list.
Now in Diomande, Sporting have another central defender destined to reach the top.
Diomande has the profile every modern centre back craves. He is 6ft 3in, quick, strong, athletic and at ease in possession.
He is nearly as effective in causing problems for opposition defences as he is at shutting out their attackers.
Ousmane Diomande is another Sporting Lisbon superstar Amorim should look to bring with him to Old Trafford
Diomande needs some work on his defensive precision but the Ivorian has huge potential
His passing range is exciting, too, in the age of defenders who are expected to build from the back.
There is still some work to be done on his defensive precision, but the potential is too great to ignore.
Diomande has followed a familiar route. From Olympic Sport Abobo in his homeland to Midtjylland in Denmark and then on to Sporting, the next stop will surely be a club in one of Europe’s top-five leagues.
And now his old boss, Amorim, is at one of the biggest of them all.
10. ANTONIO SILVA
Age: 21 Club: Benfica Position: Centre back Country: Portugal
Production continues apace at the Portuguese centre back factory.
No sooner had Pepe finally left the stage at the age of 41, than his would-be heirs were jockeying for position.
Pepe was a controversial character but had an outstanding career at club and international level.
Antonio Silva is also a feisty personality and has the credentials to do the same, having already racked up 17 Portugal caps and only just turned 21.
Antonio Silva has 17 Portugal caps at the age of just 21 and is being likened to Pepe
Silva is strong both on the ball and in the tackle, excelling when he has to go one-v-one
Silva is excellent on the ball and strong in the tackle. Solid enough in the air and impressive in one-on-ones.
A glance at his average positions shows a telling red splodge just inside the opposition half, indicating a defender comfortable playing in a high line.
He has not been an automatic pick for Benfica this season but that says more about the quality of Bruno Lage’s options than it does about Silva.
11. MARTIM FERNANDES
Age: 18 Club: Porto Position: Full back Country: Portugal
Now here is a prospect. A flying right back who is part of the excellent Portugal generation who reached the last four of the European Under-17 Championship two years ago, Fernandes is now a key player in one of the best Porto teams of recent times.
He is not a full back who will step into midfield, as is a modern trend, but he will give his opponents on the flank no peace whatever. Sprint after sprint, cross after cross.
He already has four assists in the league this season and it will not be long before Fernandes makes his senior international debut.
It will not be long before Martim Fernandes (dark blue) makes his senior Portugal debut
Fernandes has racked up 31 appearances for Porto so far after making his debut last season
Portugal boss Roberto Martinez is not the only one who will be keeping a close eye on Fernandes.
You can imagine Amorim is already well aware of his progress.
A little bit longer in Portugal might be best for all parties but make no mistake: Fernandes is bound for the Premier League.
12. PAU CUBARSI
Age: 18 Club: Barcelona Country: Spain Position: Centre back
To have one teenage superstar in your first team is unusual. If they are already world class, that is extremely rare.
Yet Barcelona, remarkably, have two generational talents in their starting XI.
The whole world knows about Lamine Yamal thanks to his stunning displays for club and country, and his astronomical price tag puts him well out of United’s (or, indeed, anyone’s) reach.
Yet Cubarsi is not far behind. Most top teenagers are attacking players but Cubarsi is a centre back playing as though he has 580 club games behind him, not 58.
Defender Pau Cubarsi is already a world-class talent for Barcelona at the age of just 18
Cubarsi almost never makes mistakes, demonstrating a maturity beyond his years
The Spanish centre back required 10 stitches after taking a boot to the face in November
Players for the elite clubs know their mistakes will be examined far more closely than those who make errors for lower-profile teams. Cubarsi has a simple answer for this: he doesn’t make mistakes.
He is already carrying the battle scars of high-level competition. Cubarsi needed 10 stitches after taking a boot to the face when Barcelona beat Red Star Belgrade in the Champions League in November.
He seemed to take the whole experience in his stride – much like everything else.
There is no reason for Barca to sell him. Yet the club have suffered financial difficulties and should a player need to be sold, there would be plenty of takers for Cubarsi.
13. NICO WILLIAMS
Age: 22 Club: Athletic Bilbao Country: Spain Position: Winger
Spare a thought for Inaki Williams.
For years the Athletic forward was one of the most impressive and consistent players in La Liga.
He put together 251 consecutive league appearances for a single club – an incredible achievement and a La Liga record.
Just when he seemed ready to take the next step, along comes his kid brother to steal his thunder.
Nico Williams, along with the likes of Lamine Yamal, has made wingers fashionable again
He broke England’s hearts in the Euro 2024 final last summer, scoring the opening goal
Whereas Inaki declared for Ghana after never being capped by Spain in a competitive international, Nico is now a key man for La Roja and scored the first goal when they beat England 2-1 in the Euro 2024 final.
Thanks to Yamal, Williams and Real Madrid and Brazil star Vinicius Junior, wingers are fashionable again.
As he tears past his full back on the outside, Williams is one of the most thrilling sights in the game.
Barcelona could not quite push a deal over the line for him last summer – and their loss may be United’s gain.
14. PATRICK DORGU
Age: 20 Club: Manchester United Country: Denmark Position: Left back
Dorgu is a player we have been tracking at Mail Sport for some time, and lo and behold United saw the light and snapped him up in January.
The left back cost £29.6million from Italian club Lecce, who had paid only £200,000 to bring Dorgu into their academy three years ago.
Tall, athletic and adventurous, Dorgu looks made to measure for the Premier League and has already broken into the Denmark senior squad, scoring 42 seconds into his debut with his very first touch against Switzerland.
Dorgu has joined United for £29.6m from Lecce, six months after joining the Serie A side for just £200,000
He played 57 times for Lecce and has an eye for goal, finding the net on five occasions.
His one-v-one ability may be a concern but United have crying out for a left wing-back to compete with, and overcome, the likes of Luke Shaw and Diogo Dalot in Amorim’s 3-4-3 system.
He was highly admired by Unai Emery at Aston Villa but United have got their man to fill a problem spot.
Now, to make Mission 21 a reality, he needs to be just the first step towards glory.
