Manchester United star expected to leave Old Trafford in January

Manchester United are open to allowing young striker Charlie McNeill to leave the club on loan in January, according to reports.

The Red Devils have arranged for several younger players to leave temporarily this season to allow them to gain experience, with Amad Diallo's loan spell at Sunderland viewed as having been a success thus far.

Full-backs Ethan Laird (QPR) and Alvaro Fernandez (Preston North End) have also impressed at Championship level, along with midfielder Hannibal (Birmingham).

With United's youth academy one of the best in world football, there is always a high volume of talent desperate to play senior football in order to aid their development into the first team.

Many of the current crop of youngsters, however, have been training with the first team this season, with McNeill one of the players named in Ten Hag's matchday squad for Europa League games.

Zidane Iqbal, Rhys Bennett and Charlie Savage are among the other players to have been involved at Carrington this term.

Now, as the January transfer window opens, United could loan out one of their starlets.

McNeill set for loan move

According to 90min, United are open to sending McNeill out on loan if they can sign a new forward and receive an appropriate offer for his services.

It is said that several EFL clubs are interested, including Championship duo Blackpool and Millwall and League One high-flyers Ipswich.

Ipswich are managed by former United coach Kieran McKenna, which could potentially give them an advantage over other clubs.

A move for a new striker would mean McNeill, who made his debut for United in a Europa League tie against Real Sociedad last year, would see his first team pathway blocked for now, and a loan move could help to progress his development in the meantime.

The 19-year-old has netted three goals in five games for the reserves in the EFL Trophy, a tournament primarily involving League One and League Two clubs, and would hope to continue that goalscoring form if he does sign for an EFL club on loan in January.