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Getting to know Tosin Kehinde

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Getting to know Tosin Kehinde

Tosin Kehinde has already exceeded his own expectations for the 2017/18 season – and there might still be more to come.

Kehinde was born in Lagos but raised in the UK, and turned out for City before signing for United.

The Nigerian-born Manchester United reserves midfielders has been on the peripheral of Jose Mourinho’s first team squad for the most part of the season has the head coach ponder over a deficit of midfielders. Now with only a few games to go, rumours are circulating Kehinde could become the first player to be handed a first team contract at Manchester United.

 

Kehinde has been the beneficiary of first-team shortages after becoming a regular for the u23 side under Ricky Sbragia, and his performances in United’s reserve team of late have not only highlighted his talents but propelled him into the international scene with scouts and clubs alike taking a keen interest in his skills. In February, United were close to handing the young Nigerian a debut when they got hit with injuries and illness. Paul Pogba was ill, Maroune Fellaini remained on the sidelines with Ander Herrera and Michael Carrick was out.

Tosin Kehinde has trained with the United first team under Mourinho

Reports in Nigeria suggest that the Nigeria Football Federation are monitoring his situation ahead of a possible call-up to one of the youth sides, and the fact that he has caught Mourinho’s eye sufficiently to train with the first team should impress the decision-makers. Ahead of the 2017/18 season, his aim was merely to establish himself in the reserves, but with Kehinde all but set to play for the Nigerian National team at some point in the future, we are yet to see how he will transition into regular first team football.

The 19-year-old possesses a crisp range of passing, explosive speed and a bag of tricks, and his versatility has helped him rack up the appearances with United’s U23 – he has also featured on the wing and his September strike against Chelsea was nominated for the club’s Goal of the Month award.

 

He told ManUtd.com : “[Last season] was a bit up and do. I didn’t start all the games but I was involved a lot. I was involved in the majority of the games so I was happy with that.

“For me, this season, it’s just about really securing a place in the starting line-up as often as possible and trying to do my best to progress as a player.

“We did finish on quite a good run of results last year and we’re trying to take it into this season. I expect us to do better than last year, especially with the group of players who have come up now from the Under-18s. It gives us a more rounded squad that is better balanced as we were quite short last year.

“Everyone will push each other and raise each other’s games during the season and I think it will pay off for us. I’m looking forward to it.”

 

The teenager has already played alongside first-team squad regulars Marcus Rashford and Axel Tuanzebe, as well as Timothy Fosu-Mensah, when the quartet featured in the UEFA Youth League two years’ ago and will be hoping to follow in the foosteps of Scott McTominay, Tuanzebe, Joel Pereira, Demetri Mitchell, Josh Harrop and Angel Gomes, who all made their senior debuts under Mourinho.

Irrespective of what the general perception may be Manchester United do run the risk of losing young Nigerian Tosin Kehinde with a host of European clubs showing a growing interest in developing his talents.
According to sources, Kehinde has been offered a 2 year contract to remain at Old Trafford, however, the financial terms are yet to be agreed.
Kehinde as always reiterated his desire to play for United’s first team, but with a host of interest in his service, it will be interesting to see if he remains with the premier league giants or moves elsewhere.
FC Barcelona are apparently closely monitoring the situation and could move for Kehinde in the summer. There has been interest from Salzburg and Rapid Wien in Austria, French Clubs Amiens and Dijon, German Clubs Mainz. Bochum and Hertha Berlin with a host of other clubs in Spain, Belguim and Portugal for the attacking midfielder.
 Whether he moves on from Manchester or remains shall be the topic of conversation on the lips of United fans until the end of the season.

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