Manchester United close in on swoop for another of Sunderland's brightest academy prospects

16-year-old Joe Hugill has enjoyed an outstanding campaign on Wearside and was even fastracked into the U23 team earlier this year.

That attracted the attention of some of the Premier League’s biggest clubs, and it’s understood that Manchester United have won the race for his signature.

With Hugill unable to sign professional terms at Sunderland until he turns 17 later this year, he is free to make the switch to Old Trafford.

The two clubs have agreed a compensation package and a deal is expected to be concluded soon.

He is the second player to move to Manchester United in recent times, with talented 16-year-old Logan Pye making the same switch earlier this year.

Sunderland have faced a major problem in retaining their best academy talent before they can sign professional terms at 17.

Pye and Hugill are just wo of many to depart since the club’s relegation to League One.

Sam Greenwood moved to Arsenal, Luca Stephenson joined Liverpool, while young goalkeeper Luke Hewitson, among others, have also left the club.

Speaking earlier this season, coach Paul Bryson admitted the departures have been ‘very disheartening’.

Sunderland were able to sign talented goalkeeper Adam Richardson to professional terms earlier this ear, but the departure of Hugill is a significant blow.

Speaking the Echo earlier this year, academy manager Paul Reid insisted the club was doing ‘everything they can’ to prevent the departures.

“We’ve had conversations with the parents to map out how we see their pathway over the next five years, offered professional contracts as soon as we’re able that are very competitive for where we are right now,” he said.

“It’s certainly not a case of actively trying to lose players, it’s the exact opposite.

“It’s a constant challenge,” he added.

“Again, it’s a consequence of where the club has found itself.

“We’ve got strategies in place to keep our high-potential players. Some have been receptive to that, some haven’t.

“It’s certainly not a case of us sitting waiting for offers to come in, or us actively trying to seek these offers.

“At no point am I able to tie those players down to a professional contract.

“We have alerts and spreadsheets to say at what point is the earliest time to offer these players professional contracts, we’ve done that, so anyone who leaves this club, I’m confident we can say we’ve done everything we can.

“We try and create an environment where they want to stay, but sometimes they want to take that opportunity.”

Reid is set to oversee a significant overhaul of the club’s U18 and U23 sides in the coming months.

Both sides have endured difficult seasons, unable to win a game in their respective leagues.

The Premier League brought an early end to the campaign this week in light of the COVID-19 crisis, to give clubs and players ‘clarity’ ahead of any new campaign.

Sunderland have already told the majority of their U18 squad that they will not be retained, but hoped that Hugill would stay.