Manchester United Nears Deal for Colombian Teen and Trials Senegal Captain Amid Midfield Reshuffle

Manchester United has reached a pre-contract agreement to acquire 17-year-old Colombian defensive midfielder Cristian Orozco from Fortaleza. The young talent has represented Colombia at multiple youth levels, including the U-17 team that reached the final of the South American Championships earlier this year. Orozco is set to join United officially in July when he turns 18.

While he may initially feature in the youth setup, Orozco could become part of United’s struggling midfield, which has faced challenges this season. The club’s current midfield options, such as Manuel Ugarte, Kobbie Mainoo, and Bruno Fernandes, have not consistently met expectations, with Fernandes often adapting to a deeper role due to tactical adjustments. Casemiro’s recent improvement has been noted, although his red card in a recent match against Chelsea highlighted ongoing difficulties.

United also conducted trials with Mouhamed Dabo, the Senegal U-17 captain from Be Sport Academy. In addition, the club secured an £3.3 million deal (potentially rising to £7 million with add-ons) for Diego Leon, an 18-year-old Paraguayan full-back from Cerro Porteño, who signed with Ruben Amorim’s side in July after a pre-contract agreement in January. Leon has been part of United’s matchday squad but has yet to make his debut.

Furthermore, former United goalkeeper Tom Wooster, aged 20, has been training with West Ham’s Under-21 team after leaving United at the end of the previous season.