Exclusive: Man United forward in advanced talks to join new club
Manchester United winger James Scanlon is in advanced talks to join Swindon Town on loan, sources have told Football Insider.
Scanlon, 19, is yet to make an appearance for the Red Devils’ first-team, but has been a regular starter at Under-21 level so far this season.
He is a fully-fledged international for Gibraltar, with two goals in 20 caps since debuting for his country at 17-years-old in March 2024.
While he is a left-winger by trade, Scanlon can also feature on the opposite flank, as well as in attacking and central midfield.
Scanlon is ready to play regular senior football at Swindon
Leicester-born Scanlon joined United‘s academy from Derby County in 2021 and broke into their Under-18 side in his second season at the club.
He trained with the first-team under Erik ten Hag in 2023-24, while breaking into the Under-21s, and soon signed his maiden professional contract at the end of that campaign.
Scanlon was named in a senior matchday squad for the first time in a Europa League clash against Real Sociedad last March, but is yet to make a first-team bow for the Old Trafford giants.
He has registered five goals and three assists in 22 games for the Under-21s this term, including a hat-trick against Sporting CP in the Premier League International Cup on 21 January.
Scanlon is now ready to make the step up to senior football at 19-years-old, with League Two promotion-chasers Swindon working to agree a loan deal with the Red Devils ahead of the deadline.
United unlikely to sign Cole Palmer amid Chelsea record demands
United have not signed any new players in the January window, but several youngsters have made an exit, with Scanlon expected to be the next to depart until the end of the season.
Chelsea star Palmer is someone who the Red Devils have been tentatively linked to over the last few weeks, after it emerged that he was reportedly homesick in the capital and wanted to move back to Manchester.
Despite such links, sources have told Football Insider that Palmer is happy at Chelsea and has no plans to leave anytime soon.
Not only that, but Football Insider have revealed that Chelsea would demand a Premier League record fee for Palmer, if he was to want out, and so United are unlikely to have the chance to land him regardless.