Manchester United wonderkid Chido Obi at centre of new plan after two big summer changes
Chido Obi is being earmarked for regular first-team appearances at Manchester United in the new season. Obi, 17, made the bold decision to leave Arsenal last summer and joined the Red Devils, who won the race for his sought-after signature.
Obi had to wait until February to make his first-team debut and he finished the season with eight appearances to his name. Although the Danish striker didn't find the back of the net, he did score twice in a post-season friendly win against Hong Kong.
Fans were given a glimpse of Obi's potential and it's good news for those who are excited to see more of him in the 2025-26 campaign. The teenage sensation, who scored a record-breaking 32 goals in 20 appearances for Arsenal's under-18s before leaving the Emirates, is part of Ruben Amorim's plans.
As first revealed by The Athletic Obi will regularly feature in matchday squads and only play for the U21s occasionally this term. There have also been two big changes for the Denmark youth international.
Obi has firstly received the No.32 shirt, having been No.46 last term. At Old Trafford, the number is most famously associated with Carlos Tevez, who enjoyed two prolific seasons playing for the Red Devils between 2007 and 2009.
Secondly, Obi has visibly bulked up over the summer. The 17-year-old's transformation will stand him in better stead to deal with Premier League defenders and assert himself on opponents.
Senior figures at Carrington are said to already consider Obi a member of the first-team squad, despite his lack of experience. Amorim has been passing on his wisdom to Obi, who said in April: "He's just told me to be humble and keep working hard every day.
"And hopefully I get more opportunities soon. My dad and my mum always told me to be a good person and listen to my coaches because they want me to get better, so it's good.
Will Chido Obi become a starter for Manchester United next season? Give us your prediction in the comments section.
"I've learnt to be smart and to think quicker by training with the first team because the game is quicker compared to academy football. It helps me a lot, training with them every day."
Obi's first target is to impress Amorim during pre-season. United start their run of five friendlies by facing Leeds this Saturday in Stockholm, Sweden.
The Red Devils will then jet off to the USA in the early part of next week for matches against West Ham, Bournemouth and Everton. Amorim's side finish their preparations against Fiorentina at Old Trafford on Saturday, August 9,
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Metro
16 minutes ago
- Metro
Man Utd target signing PSG star with £35m transfer lined up
Manchester United are competing with Manchester City and Juventus to sign Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, according to reports in France. Donnarumma has just finished his fourth season with PSG, helping the club win the French league and cup double as well as the Champions League. However, the Italy international has just a year remaining on his contract with PSG and has failed to reach an agreement over a new deal. According to L'Equipe, PSG have now taken 'concrete steps' to sign Lille goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier, who is viewed as a long-term successor for Donnarumma. The report adds that Lille will demand a €40 million (£35m) transfer fee for Chevalier, which PSG are happy to pay. Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro's Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link so we can send you football news tailored to you. Lille are said to be resigned to losing Chevalier before the end of the summer transfer window, which throws Donnarumma's future at PSG in doubt. Donnarumma, meanwhile, has privately discussed the idea of leaving PSG and has attracted interest from United, City, Juventus and Galatasaray. Speaking earlier this year, Donnarumma made it clear that he wanted to sign a new deal with PSG. More Trending 'There are so many rumours. The truth is that I feel good here and that everyone likes me and holds me in esteem,' the 26-year-old told Sky Italia. 'I am feeling very good, settled and my priority is to extend [my contract] here.' United are in the market for a new goalkeeper due to Andre Onana's inconsistent performances in his two seasons at the club. Ruben Amorim's side have already failed with an attempt to sign Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez on loan. City, meanwhile, are set to re-sign James Trafford for £27m, two years after he left to join Burnley. For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: Viktor Gyokeres reveals why he rejected Manchester United to join Arsenal MORE: Newcastle United plot move for £50m Chelsea striker to replace Alexander Isak MORE: Everton make surprise £31m offer for Chelsea and Liverpool transfer target
Daily Mirror
17 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Newcastle draw up four-man shortlist to replace Alexander Isak as Liverpool sent message
Alexander Isak has informed the Newcastle hierarchy that he wants to leave and Eddie Howe's side have wasted no time by identifying four strikers who could replace him Newcastle have drawn up a shortlist of four strikers in case they're forced to sell Alexander Isak. The Magpies are braced for offers after it emerged on Thursday that Isak, 25, wants to leave St James' Park. His decision follows an enquiry from Liverpool, who signalled that they'd be willing to pay a British-record £120million for the Swede. Newcastle responded by insisting that Isak isn't for sale and Liverpool quickly turned to Hugo Ekitike, who the Magpies also wanted to sign. Despite wrapping up an eye-watering £79m deal with Eintracht Frankfurt for Ekitike, Liverpool remain interested in Isak. Although manager Eddie Howe remains 'confident' that his star won't depart, Newcastle are making contingency plans which could have a chain reaction in the Premier League. A report from the Mail has revealed the four strikers who Newcastle are doing their homework on. Those four are named as Nicolas Jackson, Ollie Watkins, Yoane Wissa and Benjamin Sesko. Howe's side have already made a £25m bid for Wissa - which was immediately rejected by Brentford - while Watkins and Jackson, meanwhile, are on Manchester United's shortlist as they also target a striker. Benjamin Sesko was in talks to join Arsenal before the Gunners ultimately decided on Viktor Gyokeres, who's £63.7m arrival was confirmed on Saturday. Wissa scored 19 times in the league last season for Brentford and with 12 months left on his contract, the 28-year-old is pushing to leave. Watkins is also Premier League-proven, bagging 75 goals and registering 34 assists in 184 top-flight matches for Aston Villa. Jackson, meanwhile, has fallen down the pecking order at Chelsea after they paid £30m for Liam Delap and spent £60m on Joao Pedro. On the other hand, Sesko is a prized asset for RB Leipzig, who are expected to demand around £70m. Who should Newcastle sign if Alexander Isak leaves? Let us know your pick in the comments section. Howe was asked multiple questions about Isak's future at a press conference in Singapore on Saturday. Asked if the Liverpool target would stay, Howe replied: "I said after the Celtic game I certainly hope he stays and I said I was confident he would stay. "I don't see anything that will change that opinion of mine at the moment - but it's football and who knows what the future may bring? We are in a very strong position financially. "We are determined to be successful, be ambitious. We have got a great season ahead of us and we need to add to the squad and continue to improve. The journey will continue in an upward trajectory and that's what we all want." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Times
an hour ago
- Times
Arsenal end striker saga with £55m Viktor Gyokeres signing
Arsenal have finally solved their striker conundrum by completing the £55million signing of Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting Lisbon. The 27-year-old Sweden player, who fired Sporting to the title last season with 39 goals and netted a Champions League hat-trick against Manchester City, is understood to have signed a five-year deal at the Emirates Stadium. Gyokeres's transfer, which could end up costing the north London club as much as £64million with performance-related add-ons, takes Arsenal's close-season spending to about £200million. He becomes Mikel Arteta's sixth summer signing and follows the defender Cristhian Mosquera (£13million), the midfielder Martín Zubimendi (£60million), the goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga (£5million), the midfielder Christian Norgaard (£10million) and the forward Noni Madueke (£48.5million) in moving to the Emirates. Gyokeres is expected to meet his new team-mates during Arsenal's pre-season tour to Singapore and Hong Kong. Arteta's side face Newcastle United in the Singapore National Stadium on Sunday and end their tour with a match against Tottenham Hotspur in Hong Kong on July 31. Arteta, the Arsenal manager, said: 'Viktor has so many qualities. He is a quick and powerful presence up front, with incredible goalscoring numbers at club and international levels. He brings a clinical edge with a high conversion rate of chances into goals, with his intelligent movement in the box making him a constant threat. We're excited about what Viktor brings to our squad.' Gyokeres moved to Brighton & Hove Albion from the Swedish side Brommapojkarna in January 2018, but spent time on loan at St Pauli and then Swansea City and Coventry City, before making a permanent move to the West Midlands club in July 2021. After Coventry were beaten on penalties by Luton Town in the 2023 Championship play-off final, Gyokeres completed a £20.5million switch to Sporting. He scored 97 goals in 102 matches for the Portuguese side. Arsenal spent the concluding months of last season without a recognised striker because of long-term injuries to Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz. The club's new sporting director, Andrea Berta, has wasted little time in strengthening a squad that has finished runners-up in the league for the past three seasons. Gabriel and Myles Lewis-Skelly have also signed new contracts, with a long-term extension for Ethan Nwaneri, 18, believed to be all but completed. Berta said: 'We are confident Viktor will have a major impact on the pitch and become an important figure in our dressing room.' Everton open talks with Lyon over wonderkid winger Everton have entered the race for talented winger Malick Fofana after opening talks with Lyon for the starlet. David Moyes wants to sign two wide men before the start of the season and, alongside Southampton's Tyler Dibling, Everton are also trying to recruit Fofana, 20. The youngster, who mainly plays off the left, has already made his senior debut for Belgium and is regarded as one of Europe's most promising talents. Discussions between the clubs have still to bring an agreement and Everton would then have to persuade the player to move to Merseyside. Fofana was linked last season with Bayern Munich and Nottingham Forest, the latter of which have done a number of deals with Lyon over the past year. Bayern are pursuing an interest in Liverpool's Luis Diaz. Everton have been frustrated in their attempts to bolster their squad in wide areas, having seen Francisco Conceição join Juventus from Porto and Johan Bakayoko move to RB Leipzig from PSV Eindhoven. A move for Dibling, 19, is also being discussed, although the asking price could be a stumbling block. Meanwhile, Everton are close to sealing a deal for Bayern's 19-year-old left back Adam Aznou in a deal worth around £8million. Moyes has already brought in Charly Alcaraz from Flamengo after a successful loan move in the second half of last season, Thierno Barry from Villarreal and Mark Travers from Bournemouth for a combined outlay in the region of £45million.
