Football
Exclusive: Young Gun Sam Mather Could Swap Manchester United for UAE After Turkish Transfer Collapses
UAE Pro League side Shabab Al Ahli enter the race to sign Manchester United's young talent Sam Mather after a deal with Kayserispor fell through. Mather, a promising winger, is seeking more game time and could potentially move to the UAE side on a permanent or loan basis. Negotiations have hit a roadblock, but the transfer window remains open for potential deals. Other United youngsters have also been sent on loan for development this season.
Reading U21 v Manchester United U21: Premier League 2 by Manchester United | Getty Images
United Arab Emirates side Shabab Al Ahli Club have expressed an interest in signing highly-rated Manchester United wing wizard Sam Mather, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal.
A deal with Turkish side Kayserispor for the former England Under-19 forward is understood to have fallen through over the weekend, with UAE Pro League leaders Al Ahli keen on doing a deal.
Al Ahli have now entered the race for the player’s signature, with Kayserispor having also not given up hope of signing the young gun, although they will now have to wait for the Turkish transfer window to reopen.
Last season Mather, one of a string of top young talents at Old Trafford, went on loan to League Two Tranmere Rovers.
Now the Red Devils are keen to offload the 21-year-old, whether that be on a permanent or loan move with the option of a permanent deal afterwards.
Mather has also previously been on loan at Rochdale, where he played ten games on loan as part of his continued development.
Kayserispor were understood to have wanted to sign Mather on a permanent deal, but the deal collapsed at the eleventh hour despite personal terms having been agreed.
BUYBACK CLAUSE
A special buyback clause was believed to be part of the agreement, but the two clubs could not get the deal over the line in time.
Mather is contracted to United until the summer of 2027, but a move to the UAE, to player for one of the country’s top sides, could prove very tempting.
The other option could be another loan move with an English club with the youngster having outgrown academy football at United.
The UAE transfer window remains open so hope of Mather securing a new deal remains firmly on the cards.
But Super Lig outfit Kayserispor and United were both left frustrated that negotiations broke down as such late stage in the transfer process.
A string of youngster have already left Old Trafford on loan this season including midfielder Toby Collyer (West Brom), left-back Harry Amass (Sheff Wed), midfielder Daniel Gore (Rotherham) and striker Ethan Wheatley (Northampton), with a view to making the next steps in their promising career.
Neil has been a journalist for longer than he'd care to remember, having written for national newspapers and respected publications for over 25 years. For the last three years he has worked freelance for BBC Sport, working on the production desk as a sub-editor and also as a writer, covering a whole range of sports.