A REPUBLIC of Ireland teenager is on trial at Manchester United.
Ike Manjor, 16, is generating intense interest from Premier League clubs and is currently training with United.
The Cork City academy talent is highly regarded in Ireland and has played for the country’s under 15s.
Sources say every major club in the Premier League is keen on signing Manjor.
The youngster, who turns 17 next month, is on a week-long trial at United and will play in behind-closed-doors matches this week.
Roy Keane and Denis Irwin, United’s two most successful Irish players, were born in Cork.
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United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe said earlier this season that the club’s academy had “really slipped”.
Former coach Ruben Amorim also claimed that there was an “entitlement” culture among academy players after he was critical of loanees Harry Amass and Chido Obi.
Academy graduates Amass, Obi, Tyler Fredricson, Jack Fletcher, Shay Lacey and Bendito Mantato all made their first-team debut under Amorim.
Six United academy players had season-long loans cut short earlier this month amid a lack of playing time at Football League and non-league clubs.
The appointment of Michael Carrick as head coach for the rest of the season is expected to bridge the gap between the first team and the academy.
Carrick and his coaching staff were in attendance for United Under 18s’ FA Youth Cup fourth round win against Derby County at Old Trafford on Friday night.
Carrick’s son, Jacey, is in the United academy.
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