Man Utd in talks to sign wonderkid but face 'race against time'

1 Sept 2026 14:57 BST | 4 min read

Michael Carrick, Man Utd, 2026/27 — © IMAGO

Tom Weber | Writer

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Manchester United face a "race against time" to complete the signing of Leicester City prospect Louis Page.

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The Red Devils have been in discussions over the possible acquisition of the 18-year-old midfielder for a few weeks, but there is still no full agreement in place - and the clock is ticking down.

According to Ben Jacobs, Man Utd are still actively working on a deal for the Leicester homegrown, but a transfer is proving complicated, not least because the Foxes face Plymouth in a League One clash this evening.

Talks are centred around a permanent signing of the teenager, with Leicester believed to be demanding a fee of at least seven figures. Page is already on a professional contract with the Foxes, so Man Utd would have to offer the same terms.

Meanwhile, there is also rival interest from Arsenal, who were also in for his former teammate Jeremy Monga before he joined Man City, though it is currently not clear whether the Gunners are actively trying to complete a deal today.

Who is Louis Page?

Hailing from nearby Lutterworth, Page came up through the Leicester academy and made his senior debut against Charlton in the Championship last season. He would go on to make another 17 league appearances but also had long spells away from the first team.

Page has played for England at the U19, U18 and U17 levels. He started three of the Young Lions' U17 World Cup games last year as they crashed out in the round of 16.

All told, the versatile central midfielder has made 25 senior appearances for Leicester across all competitions. This term, he has featured in four of the Foxes' five games, starting twice. At Man Utd, he would likely join the youth ranks initially.

Man Utd's Deadline Day business

It has been a very low-key Deadline Day for Man Utd so far. In fact, the ongoing talks over a deal for Page are the only active discussions that have been publicly disclosed, although it is possible that the Red Devils are working on other potential incomings behind the scenes.

The main priority in the final days of the window has been to add a left-back, and you would have thought that Luke Shaw's poor performance against Ipswich at the weekend would have added to the sense of urgency.

However, Man Utd are struggling to find the right target, and there is now no guarantee that they will be able to acquire someone for the left-back position before tonight's deadline.

If the Red Devils are to bring someone in on a last-minute deal, it is expected to be a short-term stopgap or a "try-before-you-buy" loan arrangement, with the club not having the finances to splash the cash on an elite long-term signing.