Man United ‘to ship three gamers to Swiss membership owned by Ratcliffe’

Manchester United have reportedly reached an agreement to send three players to train with a Swiss club owned by Sir Jim Ratcliffe this week.

FC Lausanne-Sport, who are 10th in the Swiss Super League, were acquired by INEOS and Ratcliffe in 2017 and will be used to give the trio first-team experience.

Habeeb Ogunneye, Jack Kingdon and Ethan Williams jetted out to Switzerland on Monday morning and will be given the opportunity to train with the senior side over the coming days, according to the Manchester Evening News.

The small group of youngsters, all aged 18, have impressed in United’s academy in recent years and have now been given the chance to test themselves abroad.

United’s agreement with Lausanne allows them to take budding talents overseas as part of a multi-club model brought to Old Trafford via Ratcliffe’s minority stake.

Manchester United will send three players to train with a Swiss club owned by Sir Jim Ratcliffe

The trio have taken part in several first-team sessions under the guidance of Erik ten Hag

United have often drafted academy youngsters into senior drills to give them experience

Lausanne are just two points above the bottom of the Swiss top-flight but it is hoped the opportunity will prove a valuable learning curve for the three starlets. 

Full back Ogunneye was named in United’s first-team for seven Premier League games late last season and he has been a standout performer for the U-21s this term.

Kingdon signed his first professional contract with the club this summer and joined Erik ten Hag’s seniors for a session before United’s 2-2 draw at Bournemouth in April. 

He wore the captain’s armband twice for the U-18s last season and was a regular starter at the heart of their defence as they went on to claim a sensational treble.

Forward Williams also saw his professional contract begin over the summer and he is another who has taken part in several first-team training sessions. 

He scored 17 goals and registered nine assists in academy fixtures last season. 

Habeeb Ogunneye is one of three players who touched down in Switzerland

Jack Kingdon will also train with the first-team at FC Lausanne-Sport this week

Ethan Williams has impressed for United’s U-18s and scored 17 goals last season

United’s unstoppable U-18s won the U-18 Premier League North, the U-18 Premier League Cup and the U-18 Premier League national final last campaign. 

Head coach Adam Lawrence praised the team for their efforts in May. 

‘It’s an amazing achievement by the players and working with them on the pitch every day, it has been a genuine pleasure,’ Lawrence said.

‘It has been challenging working with young players, and there is a lot going on in their lives and in their football careers, which you have to try and help them with.

‘They have just been a genuine joy to work with and I think what has been really nice is that it has been a group effort: lots of players all playing their part in lots of different games across the season with coming in and out of the squad.

‘It is even more satisfying because the team has achieved it, which makes it so nice.’