Darren Fletcher's first big call at Manchester United - does he try to convince his sons to...

[ASFN Admin]

New Manchester United technical director Darren Fletcher faces his first major decision in the new role: whether to convince his teenage twin sons, Jack and Tyler, to join the club from the rival Manchester City academy where they currently play. Fletcher, 37, is one of a number of famous former United players whose sons have gone on to play at the academy at City, which invested heavily in talent, as well as its education and coaching programme post-2008, to sign the best in England. Fletcher’s sons are highly-rated members of the Under-14s team at City and have been at the club since the age of eight when their famous father was coming to the end of 12 years in the United first team. How to spend the next £1bn: Manchester United finally overhaul transfer team Fletcher has been announced by United as the club’s first ever technical director. The club said he would work closely with John Murtough, appointed football director, and the more senior of the pair. United said in a statement: “Darren will add technical input and direction into all football and performance areas. He will focus on a co-ordinated and long-term approach to player and squad development, helping maintain the integral link between the academy and the first team, aligned with Manchester United’s values and culture.” The sons of Phil Neville and Robin van Persie have also had periods training at City’s academy. The club has offered private education to all players who sign scholarships in the school year in which they turn 16 and there has been notable success on the field. The Under-18s have reached five of the last six FA Youth Cup finals, losing to Chelsea in four of them, before finally beating the country’s leading development club in last season’s final. As well as developing Phil Foden for the first team, City have also seen Jadon Sancho pass through their academy and many others have made first-team debuts. Liam Delap, the son of former Stoke City, Southampton and Sunderland midfielder Rory, is another major City academy talent. A prolific goalscorer, the 18 year-old, signed from Derby County academy, has made his first-team debut. Transfers of junior players between academies are permitted under the auspices of the Elite Player Performance Plan which sets out tariffs depending on an academy’s ranking and the age of the child. United’s Under-18s current top goalscorer Charlie McNeill originally left United’s academy to join City but returned last summer.

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