Manchester United have been one of the most disappointing teams in European football this season, and they are nowhere near competing for a European place next season with little turn-around in results despite the appointment of Ruben Amorim as manager.
But there are reasons to believe in a bright future for Manchester United, as they have a number of talented young players who are a clear identity and cohesive scheme away from truly shining.
In fact, Transfermarkt released an updated list of its most valuable players in terms of worth on the open transfer market, and Manchester United had the most players in the top 10 of the list of the most valuable U21 players in the Premier League.
Arsenal, Manchester City, Bournemouth, and Tottenham all had two players each, but Manchester United were the only team with three. Not only that, but all three of the Man United players were ranked in the top five.
Kobbie Mainoo, Leny Yoro tie for most valuable
Defensive midfielder Kobbie Mainoo and new center back Leny Yoro tied with Arsenal 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri and Manchester City winger Savinho as the most valuable players at 55 million euros.
Arsenal fans will fairly argue that because of his age, Nwaneri has the most value and future upside, while Savinho is clearly the most proven and was one of the best players in LaLiga last season before joining Man City.
Alejandro Garnacho rounded out the top five at a 45 million euro valuation, edging out Bournemouth center back Dean Huijsen, who has clubs as big as Real Madrid on his radar this coming summer.
Of course, Yoro and Garnacho have been on the Madrid radar, too, but they are Manchester United players and have chosen Manchester United. Yoro has yet to make a difference this season due to injuries, but at the age of 18, he was one of the best center backs – if not THE best – in French football last season.
We all saw Garnacho’s future upside exemplified by a great bicycle kick, and he has an endorsement from club legend Cristiano Ronaldo. Meanwhile, Mainoo is arguably the biggest reason why Man United made the Europa League this season with his winning goal last year in the FA Cup Final against Man City.
Mainoo has declined this season in his performances, but the 19-year-old was an England international last season and one of the best box-to-box midfielders in the league out of nowhere. If he can get back on track and Man United can keep him, he should still come good.
Joe Soriano covers West Ham for Green Street Hammers and writes about Real Madrid for The Real Champs. He has extensive experience covering world football since 2014. Joe is an editor for The Trivela Effect, where he covers the biggest clubs in European football. He has watched professional sports regularly since 2002 and can be found playing the same sports he covers with his friends.