Sir Jim Ratcliffe is considering five EFL transfers for Manchester United as he looks to sign the “next Kylian Mbappe”

Man United transfer news as eyes shift to the EFL to find bargain acquisitions and surprising talent in the hunt for Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Kylian Mbappe replacement.

Manchester United would prefer to develop young players than purchase the polished product.

Since his ownership of Manchester United was established earlier this year, Sir Jim Ratcliffe has made a lot of soundbites public. Among the most intriguing are his rumors that he is looking to sign the next Kylian Mbappe.

After spending excessively and mostly without a plan for the last ten years without much success, the Red Devils are entering a brave new world.

Away from even the well-documented marginal gains, United are looking to transform their football operations and the market tactics will certainly be part of that.

A far cry from the long-term attempts by the Glazer family and their structure to sign readymade players, throwing them into a team with a big-name head coach, Ratcliffe promises to be different.

“What I would rather do is find the next Mbappe, rather than spend a fortune just trying to buy success,” he told the Geraint Thomas Cycling Club podcast last month. “It’s not that clever, is it, buying Mbappe, in a way?

“Anybody could figure that one out. But what’s much more challenging is to to find the next Mbappe, the next [Jude] Bellingham or the next Roy Keane.”

With reports suggesting that United are now looking to land Port Vale starlet Baylee Dipepa,Manchester Evening News has taken a look at some of the other prospects that the club could turn to in order to unearth gems for the future. Given that players such as Bellingham, Jarrod Bowen, Ollie Watkins, Jamie Vardy, Harry Maguire, Michael Olise, Eberechi Eze, and Jack Grealish have all come from EFL backgrounds, it’s certainly a goldmine to be attacked.

Baylee Dipepa

The logical place to start, Dipepa has been linked with a move to Old Trafford. The Sun reports that the 17-year-old is already a player that United are keen to do business with and that they are leading the race for his signature.

Dipepa made his senior breakthrough earlier this season, only turning 17 in January, and has slowly risen to become a regular in Darren Moore’s squad despite their struggles in League One. That such trust has been placed in a player only making their Under-17s debut last month is a testament to the talent available.

Dipepa has scored twice for Vale’s senior side this season as well as getting two assists from his 21 games. He is certainly someone now being monitored at the top level.

Ronnie Edwards

It’s hard to be the next Mbappe as a centre-back, but as far as young defenders go, this guy is right up there. Already linked with a move to Chelsea amongst other sides, the 21-year-old has stacks of EFL experience for his age.

Edwards has already racked up 134 appearances for Peterborough and has started every single game this term so far in League One. Posh are challenging to get back to the Championship, where Edwards has already played most of a full season, and his stock only continues to rise.

As an England Under-20 international, the right-footed, right-sided centre-half, Edwards one of the best in the division. It is worth remembering at this stage that John Stones spent time coming through the EFL as a young defender, as did Joe Gomez.

United have spent big to try and solve their problems at the back, including on another EFL graduate in Maguire, and Edwards at this stage of his career would represent an exciting shift for the club. His contract expires in the summer of 2025 and a bargain could be on the cards.

Archie Gray

If United fancy trying to get one back on their old rivals Leeds then this is certainly one to be on top of. Gray is hardly an unknown to the world of football at this stage but then again neither were Olise or Eze and they still left for pennies compared to some of the moves United have made.

Gray is sure to attract plenty of attention in the coming years and should Leeds go up then the moment he kicks a ball in the top flight next season his price will rocket, but it’s still the type of deal that Ratcliffe can look at. Gray is a Leeds academy prospect capable of playing right-back or midfield and frankly, he’s the real deal.

It doesn’t quite have the allure of picking up a more unknown talent and taking them to the top, but it would still represent a great acquisition.

Jack Clarke

This one is slightly different. Clarke was once the wizz-kid that Dipepa, Gray, and Edwards are currently being touted as, but has seen things stagnate. Now 23, the former Leeds youngster has come into his own.

Since moving to Sunderland he has found a lease of life, something Amad can also attest to, and is having comfortably his best season to date. Following up an impressive nine goals and 12 assists for the Black Cats in the Championship last year, Clarke now has 15 goals and four assists this term despite the team dropping off.

Given he’s older than most that are deemed ready to step up to the Premier League in a move like this it represents even more of an unsuspecting deal. Tottenham only sold him in July 2022 and he has had several struggles along the way, but for what would be a small price, Clarke is showing he’s ready for the step-up.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall

Another player that has had an up and down time, Dewsbury-Hall has excelled as perhaps the Championship’s MVP this year. From an untroubling, unsuspecting deeper option for Leicester in the top flight between 2021 and 2023, dropping down a level has seen him develop significantly.

Dewsbury-Hall now has 11 goals and 13 assists in a Foxes side vying for promotion. Given their financial struggles he will be one of the main assets clubs look at over the summer should they go up or not.

As a versatile midfield option, Dewsbury-Hall may well provide value for money despite being another older option on this list. At 25 he is not a wonderkid but a solid piece of business instead. He is the type of player it wouldn’t be surprising to see play in the Premier League next year, stand out for whoever he is representing, and be linked with a quick move up the table.

United can get ahead of the game by risking him now.

Jobe Bellingham

Looking for the next Bellingham? This is quite literally it.

Jokes aside – and bad ones at that – Jude’s brother is also making waves. Still a teenager, Jobe is another combative midfielder from Birmingham.

Coming through the Birmingham academy like Jude, Jobe joined Sunderland in the summer and has gone from strength to strength. He has already played 3,000 minutes in the Championship with seven goals and an assist coming.

There’s something in the name and United would be well advised to get themselves in the pack for signing the next Bellingham if the chance opens up.

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