Manchester United poach three teenagers from Liverpool and City in academy raid

Manchester United are on the verge of completing the signings of three teenagers from their two fiercest rivals, with 16-year-olds Isaac Konde (Liverpool), David Eze, and Karim Cassim (Manchester City) all set to join the club’s academy, according to a BBC report.

Konde made six appearances for Liverpool’s Under-18 side last season and is noted for his pace and ball control. He is expected to slot into Darren Fletcher’s Under-18 setup at United once the deal is finalised.

Eze and Cassim are both central midfielders who have been on United’s radar for some time, according to BBC journalist Simon Stone. Their arrivals would represent a significant double raid on neighbours City.

The moves continue a deliberate strategy from United to attract elite youth talent away from Premier League rivals. The club previously signed striker Chido Obi and defender Ayden Heaven from Arsenal, with both players going on to make first-team debuts. Heaven is now considered a senior option under manager Michael Carrick.

United’s academy has long been one of English football’s most celebrated, anchored by the legacy of the ‘Class of 92’ — a group of FA Youth Cup winners who went on to form the spine of Sir Alex Ferguson’s most successful sides. The club also holds the remarkable distinction of having included at least one homegrown academy graduate in every first-team matchday squad for more than 88 consecutive years.

If completed, the triple signing would signal renewed ambition at youth level as the club looks to restore its reputation as the country’s premier developer of young talent.