Man Utd youngsters seal 'bespoke' loan exits but can still play for Red Devils
Manchester United added a few more names to the January exit pile, with youngsters Sam Mather and Sam Murray joining Rochdale on loan, but the deal is unlike some others.
The non-league side will have use of the pair as part of a 'bespoke' deal, whereby their parent club can exercise control on when they are available to Dale. United have explained this means they can still play and train with United's under-21s alongside "intermittent" action in the National League.
Both youngsters have featured for United's under-21s this term, with winger Mather scoring all four goals in the recent Premier League 2 victory over Norwich City. Murray, a left-back, also started the victory over the young Canaries.
Rochdale dropped out of the Football League last season after finishing bottom of League Two. At the time of writing, they sit just outside the play-off places in the National League.
“It’s a real bespoke loan experience that Manchester United have put together, to help their young stars benefit from experiencing first-team football," said Rochdale manager Jimmy McNulty, saying he was "delighted" to welcome the pair. “With where we’re at numbers-wise, the two players will be a definite help to us, as much as we’ll be a help to them.
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“We won’t have access to those players all of the time, that will be at United’s control, which it should be," he added. “Initiatives like these are really useful for clubs in situations like us, whereby we are extremely tight on numbers.
“We’ve had to be incredibly flexible with guys we do have so far, in terms of playing players out of position, who have done an amazing job. Any niche initiatives from big clubs like this can only be helpful to us.”
What do you make of the unusual deals? Have your say in the comments section
FA Youth Cup winner Sonny Aljofree has also sealed a move away (Getty Images)Mather and Murray are two of four United youngsters to leave on 'bespoke' deals like these. Centre-back Sonny Aljofree has agreed a return to Altrincham, where he spent time last season, with Tom Wooster, a goalkeeper, on his way to Macclesfield.
"The various initiatives showcase the Academy’s dedicated support of the local football ecosystem, bringing the north-west football community together to increase expertise and develop the wider game," a statement on United's site read. Aljofree made a similar move last term, as did Joe Hugill and Maxi Oyedele, with striker Hugill appearing in the first-team squad for four matches this term.
Hugill and Oyedele have both secured EFL loans in January. Oyedele is in League Two with Forest Green Rovers, while Hugill scored his first League One goal for Oxford United on his debut for the club.
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