Man Utd identify exciting replacement for AFCON-bound Bryan Mbeumo

Manchester United have identified a hugely exciting replacement for Bryan Mbeumo, who will be at AFCON in December and January, according to a report.

The Red Devils will likely have to make do without three key players over the festive period as Mbeumo, Amad Diallo and Noussair Mazraoui are expected to feature at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Attackers Mbeumo and Amad are expected to be called up by Cameroon and the Ivory Coast, respectively, while defender Mazraoui will experience the tournament on home soil with host nation Morocco.

The loss of Mbeumo, in particular, could prove quite damaging as the €80 million summer signing has been excellent for the Red Devils so far in what has been a mixed season.

This season’s AFCON ends on 18 January, so even if Cameroon were to reach the final, Mbeumo would only be gone until mid-January, which likely would not warrant dipping into the market for a replacement.

Lacey to be given Man Utd debut

Indeed, according to the Daily Mail, Man Utd are planning to replace Mbeumo with in-house options, chiefly talented youngster Shea Lacey. It was recently revealed that the 18-year-old has left Ruben Amorim very impressed during first-team training.

The teenager, who has been one of the most highly-rated prospects in Man Utd’s academy for some time, is in line to make his debut during the festive period to replace Mbeumo or Amad.

A right-winger by trade, Lacey is the most like-for-like replacement Man Utd will have available during that time, so it makes sense to hand him his long-awaited first-team bow.

The report echoes that Amorim is a big fan of the youngster and reveals that the two have held several one-on-one conversations in recent weeks to discuss the winger’s introduction to elite football and future pathway.

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