- Manchester United make Chido Obi decision
- Young Dane has scored 15 goals across competitions this season
- May need first-team football to improve his game
Manchester United are set to loan out 18-year-old striker Chido Obi, with the forward seemingly leaning towards a move abroad rather than dropping into the lower levels of the English pyramid, per Manchester Evening News.
The Danish forward has played 30 games in all competitions, netting 15 times and providing five assists. But there have still been concerns over the forward’s off-the-ball presence.
Whilst it has improved since the start of the season, the Dane struggled against Real Madrid Castilla in the Premier League International Cup, which only strengthens the case for a loan move. Obi did win the penalty for Shea Lacey’s goal, but United collapsed from 2-0 up to lose 4-2 on the night.
His performance echoed some of his early-season displays—moments of quality, but not enough consistent impact to push towards first-team level.
Obi to the Netherlands?
Manchester Untited youth coach Adam Lawrence gave his thoughts on Obi’s future. He said (via the source above):
“His level of progression and performance will dictate what happens in the summer. I think for Chido, it’s maximising between now and the end of the season, all the opportunities that he’s going to get.“
He added:
“Pre-season is when the first-team staff will look at players and then decide what is best for them. We’re trying to prepare every player for the first-team environment. If he made that much progress or he got to that stage, then obviously the first team would make that decision.“
“A lot can happen between now and pre-season. It’s probably not an easy one to answer in black and white, but there’s definitely going to be opportunities there for him. It would just be where his game is at that specific time to dictate what happens next.”
And whilst it is likely that Obi will get another chance to impress during United’s pre-season tour, the body of work across the season carries more weight than a handful of summer friendlies. A loan move abroad now feels like the logical next step.
Despite his stature, it does not seem likely that United will send him into the hustle and intensity of the Championship. Standing at 6ft 1in and 82kg, the former Arsenal teenager looks like the prototype of a successful Championship striker.
But at times, he slows the game down too much on the ball—as seen against Castilla—and could benefit from a move to the Eredivisie, where the tempo is slightly lower and the physical demands less intense.
What Next?
If there is one clear takeaway, it is that keeping Obi in the academy this season has worked.
Whilst he looked fresh and exciting in his first eight first-team appearances last season, he struggled to impose himself, and the decision to keep him in a development environment has paid off.
The Dane remains an extremely talented forward, with a sharp eye for goal, and over the next few seasons, he could well develop into a player capable of leading the line for United.
