Manchester United are working to secure a pre-agreement for Leicester City midfielder Louis Page ahead of a potential transfer in 2027, following a collapsed move on transfer deadline day. United failed to reach an agreement with the League One club on 1 September 2026, but the 18-year-old remains a priority target. The proposed structure of the deal would see United sign Page permanently and loan him back to Leicester to continue his development.
Valuation dispute and transfer structure
According to reports by Teamtalk, Leicester demanded a total package of £15 million for Page, structured as £12 million up front and £3 million in add-ons. United deemed this valuation inflated for the midfielder, who has made 21 senior appearances and won the EFL Apprentice of the Year award. Leicester have used Manchester City’s recent £12.5 million acquisition of their academy product Jeremy Monga as a pricing benchmark.
Speaking to Teamtalk, journalist Ben Jacobs stated that United remain comfortable with the pursuit, noting that a pre-agreement or an immediate loan-back is the most likely outcome. "Louis Page to Man Utd is not dead," Jacobs said, adding that the player "was always going to stay at Leicester this season anyway" to secure first-team minutes.
INEOS youth strategy and competitor interest
The pursuit of Page fits into a clear recruitment strategy under INEOS. Writing for GiveMeSport, journalist Laurie Whitwell noted that Page is viewed as part of an "emerging talent bracket" alongside recent teenage acquisitions Ayden Heaven and Tynan Thompson. United believe their academy pathway offers a clear route to the first team.
Despite interest from Arsenal and Aston Villa, Page is understood to prefer a move to Old Trafford. United are expected to revisit negotiations in the January window or ahead of the summer of 2027 to finalize a long-term agreement.
