Manchester United are reportedly seeking opportunities to secure feeder club arrangements across Europe
Daily Record have run an exclusive report stating Manchester United are looking to secure feeder club arrangements with European clubs as a part of their administration overhaul. The Red Devils are seeking tie-ups with clubs from the region of Belgium, France and Netherlands in an attempt to promote the youth setup.
Feeder club arrangements consist of various types of agreements that facilitate a business relationship between the two clubs. The feeder clubs receive an inflow of monetary compensation as part of the agreement, in return for various clauses that are inserted by the parent club with mutual consent.
Among various clauses are the opportunities where the parent club secures first option on the squad members of the feeder club, and the option to send youngster on loan to the feeder club with an assurance of the loanee receiving adequate playing time at the respective feeder club.
One such example could be cited in the arrangement in place between Chelsea and Vitesse Arnhem. Chelsea continuously send their young talents on loan at the Eredivisie club, where they receive regular game time in the senior squad while the Blues also secured the signature of Marco Van Ginkel as a result of the first option arrangement in place between the two clubs.
Manchester United look to buy feeder club in Belgium, France, Netherlands or Portugal. #MUFC #CFC https://t.co/FHar1ugpjd pic.twitter.com/OI8Rwe4Bry
— Duncan Castles (@DuncanCastles) December 20, 2016
One of Manchester United’s most successful feeder club arrangements was with Belgian club Royal Antwerp with the relationship finally coming to end in 2009, wherein the Belgian outfit opted out of the agreement citing financial difficulties in following up the tie-in.
Out of Manchester United’s current loanees, only Andreas Pereira has been receiving regular game time at La Liga outfit Granada with others like Adnan Januzaj, James Wilson and others playing the role of a squad rotational player at their respective temporary homes.
The report also states that regions like France, Netherlands and Belgium present the most exciting places to secure feeder club arrangements in while Portugal is also cited as a potential place to scour for feeder clubs.
These arrangements would not only provide better first-team opportunities for youngsters but also enable Manchester United to secure first options and first refusal rights on the up-and-coming talents at the respective clubs.
