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Manchester United’s legacy has been built on a strong foundation of youth, so it’s no wonder they are constantly on the lookout for emerging talent across the world.
Youth have always been given the opportunity to flourish at the Theater of Dreams, but the Red Devils have also priced out highly rated young players from other academies in recent years.
INEOS has also invested in that strategy by signing the likes of Leny Yoro, Sekou Kone, Chido Obi, Diego Leon and Ayden Heaven.
United have now set their sights on a Ligue 1 wonderkid who has attracted the attention of several clubs across the continent.
United scout Tylel Tati
According to Caught offsideUnited have identified young Nantes defender Tylel Tati as an option to strengthen their backline and have sent scouts to watch him in action.
The 17-year-old joined the Ligue 1 club from Roissy-en-Brie, USA in 2023 and quickly rose through the ranks at the Stade de la Beaujoire. The French star was so impressive that he was included in the senior squad this summer, where he caught the eye of new manager Luis Castro.
The Portuguese manager made Tati his debut against Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in August this year. Although Nantes lost the match 1–0, the French defender received plenty of praise for his confident performance.
Tati started the next five matches before missing the 0–0 draw against Stade Brestois due to an adductor injury. The youngster has already amassed 516 minutes of first-team action for the senior side and has turned heads at the Theater of Dreams.
United are likely to target a new central defender in 2026
United are expected to target a new centre-back in 2026. Luke Shaw and Harry Maguire are already on the wrong side of thirty and starting to show signs of decline.
Meanwhile, Lisandro Martinez’s fitness record has been far from impressive in recent years. The Argentine defender has missed 90 games for club and country since joining Old Trafford in the summer of 2022.
The left centre-back position is increasingly a concern for the Red Devils, but Tati could be a long-term replacement for Martinez at the Theater of Dreams.
The teenager is versatile enough to operate in multiple positions at the back and is already tipped to become the cornerstone of the French defense in a few years’ time. The left-footed, ball-playing centre-back can also fill the defensive role in midfield, making him an attractive candidate for INEOS.
However, several Premier League clubs are already scouting Tati, including Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool. Barcelona, RB Leipzig and Bayer Leverkusen are also reportedly in the running, so United are unlikely to get a free run at the youngster.
Featured image Alex Livesey via Getty Images
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