Manchester United added yet another former Manchester City staffer to their ranks this season after putting Gareth Whalley in charge of loans.
According to sources, we can exclusively reveal that Whalley, who had been the loan co-ordinator at City since 2011 until a recent exit from the club, was recruited by United earlier this season to look after their loans department.
Back in December, United were on the look out for a helping hand when Jonny Evans, who is now part of Michael Carrick’s first-team coaching staff, left his post as head of loans and pathways at United after just six months. Whalley was selected as the man to monitor United’s crop of loanees, helping out on a part-time basis. United sources have stressed that no decision has yet been made about his long-term future at the club.
Whalley was an accomplished player in his day and counts Crewe Alexandra, Bradford City and Cardiff City among his former clubs.
Since stepping into coaching Whalley has had a close relationship with United’s director of football Jason Wilcox, who he worked closely with during the pair’s time at City’s academy, including a spell together running their Under 18s team in 2014.
United have not been shy in recruiting staff from their noisy neighbours having already brought in Wilcox, academy director Stephen Torpey, assistant coach to the Under 21s Alan Wright, and head of academy football development and methodology Darren Hughes. CEO Omar Berrada also arrived from City.
Gareth Whalley, who used to work for Manchester City as loan coordinator, has been fulfilling a similar role for United over the last few months
United have not been shy in recruiting staff from their noisy neighbours having already brought in director of football Jason Wilcox (left) and academy director Stephen Torpey
Manchester United’s Harry Amass has flourished on loan at Sheffield Wednesday this season
Whalley is highly-rated having played a key role behind the scenes at City in overseeing player loans, an area where City have had much better success than United in the past decade.
Sources have described him as a hands-on character with players out on loan and it is a role United have needed a specialist in since Evans stepped down. Where Torpey assumed some of the immediate responsibility following Evans’ exit, Whalley came in to free him up to undertake other director responsibilities.
United enjoyed mixed success with loan players this year with Radek Vitek, Harry Amass, Jacob Devaney, Dan Gore and Ethan Ennis all flourishing at Bristol City, Sheffield Wednesday, St Mirren, Rotherham United and Fleetwood Town respectively. On the other end of the spectrum, it has been a difficult time out on loan for James Scanlon (Swindon Town), Gabriele Biancheri (Rotherham United), Ethan Wheatley (Bradford City), and Sekou Kone (Lausanne).
A big summer is on the horizon for United, particularly with a number of promising academy players generating a lot of loan interest. Both Jack and Tyler Fletcher, the latter this year’s recipient of the Under 21s Player of the Season award, are in demand with clubs in League One and in Scotland, as are Jack Moorhouse, Amass, Ennis and Devaney.
Given Whalley helped nurture and manage loans for the likes of James McAtee, Joe Hart, Pedro Porro, Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Patrick Roberts and more, United would be wise to try and keep him in the building for a little while longer.
FERNANDES IS A MAN IN DEMAND
Confidential understands United have had more recent discussions with West Ham about the availability of midfielder Mateus Fernandes as we creep closer to the opening of the transfer window.
The 21-year-old has been a shining light in a West Ham side that could be relegated before kicking another ball this week should Tottenham Hotspur beat Chelsea. If Spurs pick up a point, West Ham will be all-but down due to a significantly worse goal difference.
While United are by no means the only suitor in for Fernandes – Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain are keen – there is an understanding that relegation will put increased pressure on the Hammers to make sales to satisfy financial rules. Sources have indicated that West Ham will likely need to recoup £100million, with Fernandes arguably their most valuable asset.
The 21-year-old Mateus Fernandes has been a shining light for West Ham this season and United have held talks with the London club over a possible transfer
But talk of a move for Julian Ryerson of Borussia Dortmund (left) is premature
United are understood to be working to a budget of around £150m, as recently revealed in this column, to overhaul their midfield engine room and Fernandes is a primary target outside of the top tier picks of Elliot Anderson, Aurelien Tchouameni and Carlos Baleba. The fact Fernandes has been left out of Portugal’s World Cup squad makes any potential move easier, too. United also retain an interest in Brazil international Ederson, of Atalanta.
Elsewhere, it’s understood that links to Borussia Dortmund’s 28-year-old left back Julian Ryerson are premature. While his name has cropped up in the last fortnight, he is not believed to be high on United’s shopping list.
ACADEMY STARS IN LINE FOR DEBUTS
It will be interesting to see who Michael Carrick plays at Brighton on the final day with some sources expecting significant change.
Carrick himself admitted in the pre-Nottingham Forest press conference that he is eager to hand minutes to some of the club’s most talented academy players before the season is out, while also balancing his group to remain competitive against a Brighton side chasing European football.
The Under 21’s play-off match at Brighton on Saturday kiboshed any hopes of those youngsters featuring for the first team against Forest on Sunday. But that is set to change with a full week’s worth of preparation and sources have indicated that both Jim Thwaites and Godwill Kukonki are under consideration for involvement.
The duo have been around the first team at different periods this season, with Thwaites most recently on the bench for the trip to Chelsea. The 18-year-old has had a stellar campaign with the Under 18s and he has also played a lot of football for the Under 21s.
It was his cross onto the head of Kukonki that pulled United level in the FA Youth Cup final recently, with Carrick, his assistant Steve Holland, and execs such as Berrada, Torpey and Wilcox also watching on.
Team news remains a fiercely guarded secret throughout the week but with third place wrapped up and just 90 minutes left of the season, debuts for Thwaites or Kukonki, who is yet to sign a pro contract, would be the cherry on top of Carrick’s four-month tenure.
United’s Jim Thwaites has had a stellar campaign with the Under-18s and could play for Michael Carrick’s first team on Sunday
BRUNO’S BRIGHT IDEA
Bruno Fernandes has spent all season assisting on the pitch but he put his off-field talents to the test in recent days as he organised a team bonding meal following Sunday’s 3-2 win over Forest.
After an emotionally exhausting afternoon in which Fernandes drew level with Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne in reaching 20 assists in a Premier League season, Confidential learned that it was the United captain’s idea for a team meal at popular city centre restaurant Fenix.
The Greek restaurant in Spinningfields is a hit for players and has been a particular favourite of Fernandes’ for some time, previously dining here with ex-Man City full-back Joao Cancelo last year.
Fernandes continues his celebrations in London tonight as he will be presented with the Football Writers’ Association award, with Michael Carrick also set to be present.
Bruno Fernandes (left) organised a team bonding meal for United’s players following Sunday’s 3-2 win over Nottingham Forest
CASEMIRO PAYS HIS OWN THANKS
Speaking of the aftermath of the Forest game, Confidential has learned that Casemiro delivered a series of personal gifts to staff members behind the scenes who had helped him during his time in Manchester.
Much of the weekend was designed around paying tribute to the Brazilian for all he has done in four years at United. But he wanted to pay his own thanks to those out of the spotlight at United. While recipients were reluctant to shed light on the exact gift, many were bowled over by the Brazilian’s generosity.
For some time now the feeling has been that Casemiro is bound for Inter Miami in the MLS. In recent days, sources speaking to Confidential explained how both sides now believe they are ‘aligned’ on what an agreement would look like and talks are said to be very advanced to unite Casemiro with Lionel Messi in Florida.
Casemiro says his goodbyes at Old Trafford at the weekend following the victory over Forest
GORE EYEING FIRST TEAM AUDITION
What Casemiro’s imminent exit has done ever since it was announced earlier this year is shed light on United’s necessary midfield overhaul.
Multiple arrivals are expected, with Anderson the No 1 target amid competition from a Pep Guardiola-less Man City, but one name closer to home is hoping to land his own audition.
Daniel Gore, who made his first-team debut in 2023, impressed out on loan this season in League One with Rotherham United. Since returning to Carrington following the end of the EFL regular season, Gore has had the chance to train with the first team and make an impression on Carrick and his coaching staff.
Gore, who is under contract until 2028 after signing a new deal before heading to Rotherham, remains highly rated at Carrington and no decision on his future has yet been made.
The 21-year-old is expected to get an opportunity to play a part in pre-season – which begins before the conclusion of the World Cup – where he hopes to make a claim for involvement in a midfield department that is on the cusp of finding itself in major flux. Manuel Ugarte is expected to depart while Toby Collyer could also leave permanently should a suitable offer arrive.
There are flags aplenty in the Stretford End at Old Trafford thanks in no small part to the work of fan group The Red Army
TRA KEEP THE FLAGS FLYING
Now that the last Premier League action of the season has been played at Old Trafford, the work of The Red Army (TRA) is worthy of mention.
TRA have worked tirelessly this season to overhaul the matchday displays of flags and banners in the Stretford End and the improvement in atmosphere has gone hand in hand with their work. Sources close to players have been full of praise for the work of the fan group and mentioned how it has been a topic of conversation among players and their relatives just what an improvement has been made inside Old Trafford this season.
Through the work of the TRA, there are now more than 350 flags in the bottom tier of the Stretford End and the club have taken the wise step of working closely with key figures in the group throughout the season to maximise the potential of fan support at the end of the ground.
With European nights returning for next season, the signs are looking good for many more famous Old Trafford atmospheres being created, thanks in no small part to TRA.
