Manchester United are set to loan out two young academy strikers, with the teenage sensation who once scored 10 goals in a single match heading to the Bundesliga. Zirkzee is almost certain to remain at the club.

The 18-year-old Manchester United striker Chido Obi might feature in the Bundesliga next term, holding deep discussions with FC Cologne about a one-season loan. He rose to fame after scoring ten goals in a match for Arsenal U16 against Liverpool, then was signed by United. Under Ruben Amorim's half-season in charge, Obi became a rotational option for the first team, but failed to find the net in eight appearances and was subsequently sent back to the youth setup.

Last season, neither Amorim, Darren Fletcher, nor Carrick chose to promote Obi to the senior squad, leaving him to play youth football with the U21s. He recorded 37 appearances across all competitions, scoring 20 goals and providing six assists. The club now wants him to gain experience in senior football to determine if he is ready for the Red Devils.

Manchester United's first-team squad includes Benjamin Šeško, the €85 million striker, and Dutch forward Joshua Zirkzee, who is unwilling to leave. This situation forces Obi to seek a loan move; otherwise, he will continue playing youth football, which offers little development value for the soon-to-be 19-year-old Danish striker.

Zirkzee was not included in the Netherlands' World Cup squad, while Šeško's Slovenia failed to qualify for the tournament. Both will therefore attend pre-season training, meaning Obi has no chance of involvement from the start of pre-season.

Cologne finished 14th in the Bundesliga last season, narrowly avoiding relegation. They scored 49 goals in 34 matches, showing decent attacking form, but the late-season injury to Ragnar Ache weakened their frontline. Seeking to bolster their attack this summer, they are keen on signing Obi as a rotational option, promising him ample playing time—something he cannot get at United.

Meanwhile, United academy striker Ethan Wheatley has also entered negotiations with newly promoted Eredivisie side SC Cambuur regarding a loan deal. Wheatley aims to gain experience in a top European league, and Cambuur is working to convince him to join.

Now 20 years old, Wheatley spent last season on loan at Bradford City in League One, scoring just three goals in 37 appearances. He has virtually no chance of breaking through at United, who hope he performs well to fetch a better transfer fee.

In addition to Obi and Wheatley, Manchester United may also loan out 19-year-old left-back Harry Amas. He was loaned to Championship sides Sheffield Wednesday and Norwich last season, but his second spell was cut short by a serious injury. Amas and Obi are attracting interest from many lower-league English clubs. Carrick may assess Amas during pre-season, as the team currently has only Luke Shaw as a left-back. He will decide the futures of Amas and fellow teen Diego León, with United keeping at most one of them.

United's right-backs Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui can both fill in at left-back, so it remains uncertain whether the club will sign a left-sided defender this summer. Both players took part in the World Cup and will not return until late July. United begins pre-season training on July 8, giving young full-backs an early chance to impress.

According to Manchester United correspondent Samuel Luckhurst, the 27-year-old Dalot and 28-year-old Mazraoui have no intention of leaving, so the club will not sign any right-sided players. United only plans to strengthen the left flank.

Midfielder Jack Fletcher is another young player United might consider loaning out. His twin brother Tyler Fletcher is more likely to stay under Carrick, as the Scottish World Cup international plays as a defensive midfielder—a position where United are short-staffed—while Jack plays as a No. 10, where competition is fiercer.

Meanwhile, Manchester United's Dutch centre-back Matthijs de Ligt hopes to return to action by the start of the season. De Ligt has been sidelined since November due to a back injury and underwent surgery last month. According to *The Sun*, his recovery is progressing well. He is currently vacationing on the Spanish island of Ibiza while undergoing targeted rehabilitation training.

According to the recovery plan, de Ligt aims to be back on the pitch early next season. Whether he can achieve this remains uncertain. He started and played the full 90 minutes in each of United's first 13 matches last season but hasn't recovered since getting injured on November 30. He was repeatedly reported to be close to a return, only for those reports to prove premature each time.