How Manchester United have stolen a march on their rivals in new transfer war

Man Utd spent up to £8million on Tynan Thompson this week and their attempts to recruit the best youngsters in the country have been strengthened recently.

With the growth of the transfer market for the best players in the Premier League showing no signs of slowing, the battle to sign the best of the next generation has never been more important.

This is an area where Manchester United have become more proactive recently and while they are again looking to sign some outstanding 16-year-olds this summer, it is an age group higher where they have started to see success.

Perhaps the key deal here is the £1.5million spent to sign Ayden Heaven, then 18, from Arsenal at the end of the January 2025 window. Heaven couldn't see a pathway to the Gunners' first team, but was given the star treatment on visits to Old Trafford and a clear route to opportunities was laid out in front of him.

Director of football Jason Wilcox led that approach and Heaven got what he was promised. Having played 10 minutes of an EFL Cup tie for Arsenal, Heaven has since played 24 times for United, and although he found it more difficult to get minutes after Michael Carrick took over in January, that was mostly due to the schedule and the fact that United had gone out of both domestic cup competitions early.

Heaven has had first-team chances and taken them at Old Trafford. His career has progressed to the point he is now a regular option at United, despite still only being 19. He will be looking to force his way into contention more often this season and could benefit if Lisandro Martinez and Matthijs de Ligt continue to struggle with injuries.

Heaven trained with the England senior team in March, and was actually a little disappointed to only be included in the Under-20s rather than the Under-21s. That step up can't be far away and with United's schedule looking far busier this season, he can expect to get games with his club side.

So when United are making the pitch to players who see first-team progression blocked elsewhere, they can point to Heaven and the success of his decision to swap London for Manchester. It is a strong selling point.

It might well have formed part of the pitch to Tynan Thompson this summer, with the 18-year-old also leaving the capital to join United, signing from Tottenham. That deal is an initial £4million, with a further £4million in add-ons. Tottenham wanted to keep Thompson, but while personal circumstances played a role, it's clear that young players feel there is a pathway at Old Trafford as well.

Thompson has been around the United first-team this week, but has yet to train with his new side, instead doing some individual work and getting settled into the group. It would be no surprise if he wasn't included in the squad to face Rosenborg in Norway this weekend.

But his chance will come in pre-season. The fact he is set to be pitched into first-team training is a clear indication of where United value him, and that he will get games. He is likely to be in the squad for at least one of the friendlies in Sweden against Atletico Madrid and Paris St-Germain.

If he shines this summer, he is set to remain at least around the first-team squad, in the same way right-winger Shea Lacey will do after taking his own opportunity. Thompson might still play games for the Under-21s, but he will likely be in some matchday squads this term and in plenty of first-team training sessions.

If he follows the path of Heaven and starts to break through at Old Trafford, then it is a further selling point the next time United try and sign a promising 17 or 18-year-old.

With £100million transfer fees becoming the norm, clubs have to try and act and think differently, and United are seeking an edge in the arms race for the best of the next generation.

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