Man Utd close in on RECORD-BREAKING double swoop

Tom Weber

• 22 Jul 2023 13:50 BST
• 3 min read

Manchester United are closing in on the signings of Darren and Tyler Fletcher from Manchester City, according to Fabrizio Romano.

It's not just in senior football where clubs are continually wheeling and dealing, even youth football is becoming the scene of an increasing volume of big-money transfers. Manchester United and Manchester City are on the verge of concluding business on one of the biggest youth deals in history.

Initially reported by The Athletic last month, Fabrizio Romano now claims that Manchester United are in the process of wrapping up a double swoop for the Fletcher twins, Jack and Tyler, from Manchester City. If the name rings a bell, that's because they are the sons of former United midfielder and the club's current technical director Darren Fletcher.

CONFIRMED: Atalanta braced for Hojlund offer from Man Utd

A specific fee hasn't been mentioned, but the Italian transfer expert states that it will be a record deal for U16 players within the United Kingdom. In addition to a sum of money, Manchester City will also come away from the negotiations with a new player.

City to sign Harrison Parker

Former Arsenal prospect Harrison Parker will reportedly go the other way, joining City from United. A highly-rated defender, Parker recently turned 16 and was offered a record scholarship deal by the Red Devils, but he will now join their hated rivals.

The Fletcher twins have been part of the City academy for the past nine years despite their father's allegiances - and they aren't the only sons of ex-United players to have featured in the Cityzens' youth system. Wayne Rooney and Phil Neville also enrolled their kids in their old rivals' celebrated development program.

READ: Andre Onana: Why Man Utd's goalkeeper wears No.24

Like their father, Tyler and Jack are both midfielders and are considered two of the UK's biggest prospects. The twins actually played against each other earlier in the year, with Jack lining up for England's U16s, while Tyler featured for Scotland, like his dad. England won 3-0.