EXCLUSIVE: Man Utd wonderkid Shea Lacey close to new contract

Jacque Talbot

• 15 Apr 2024 10:15 BST
• 5 min read

Exclusive

Manchester United are close to securing the future of Shea Lacey by tying the 17-year-old to his first professional contract, FootballTransfers can exclusively reveal.

Sources have indicated that the teenage midfielder will sign his new deal “soon” as Man Utd build towards the future.

The left-footed winger celebrated turning 17 on Sunday and is poised to receive a dream present as he is set to turn pro with the Red Devils.

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Lacey, who has been dubbed the ‘Scouse Messi’, has been starring for the club in the U18 Premier League this season, with two goals and three assists in just 436 minutes of football.

On top of this, he made three UEFA Youth League appearances, including two off the bench, and created a goal against Galatasaray in a 3-0 win.

Amid Man Utd’s recent injury problems, Lacey has appeared in first-team training, with the teenager evidently enjoying the experience.

“Been a tough six months good to be back out there,” he wrote on his Instagram page.

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Ten Hag has been pushing for Lacey deal

And United’s vote of confidence indicates that he will get plenty more opportunities in the future, although his involvement in the first team will still be at the discretion of the manager, whether that is Erik ten Hag or someone else beyond the summer.

The Dutchman is clearly a fan of the versatile teenager, though.

According to reports as far back as last August, Ten Hag held talks with the attacking midfielder over signing a permanent deal with the club. At that time, Lacey was being closely followed by many leading clubs in Europe.

United have underlined their commitment to bringing the best products through in recent months with the explosive emergence of Kobbie Mainoo, who is already a first-team regular.

Though a year younger than Mainoo, Lacey is aiming to follow in his footsteps soon, with his new contract simply the latest indication that he is on the right track.