Manchester United have new approach to signing and selling players in their academy

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Manchester United academy bosses believe they are beginning to see their efforts to turn their development pathway around bear fruit and point to the recruitment of Darren Fletcher's twins this summer as a sign of the improvements.

Jack and Tyler Fletcher returned to United from Manchester City at the age of 16 this summer, having made the opposite journey at the start of their youth careers at a time when it is now accepted the United academy had gone "stale".

While United officials did debate the merits of signing the 16-year-olds, given their dad holds the role of technical director at the club and would essentially be overseeing their development, the duo are highly rated for their age group and the club also considered it a feather in the cap and a sign of the improvements they had made in recent years at academy level that both players wanted to come back. ALSO READ: United should start Eriksen vs City - but in a different role ALSO READ: Ferdinand urges Ratclife to do what Glazers have failed to do Not long ago players such as the Fletcher twins were looking elsewhere for their development, but United have attempted to modernise in recent years under academy director Nick Cox, focusing more heavily on areas such as data, sports science and psychological support.

Recruitment staff in the academy identified both Fletcher twins as being up with the best players in their country for their age group, which made signing them a no-brainer once United had decided there was no conflict with Darren's role.