Manchester United is on the verge of securing the future of 17-year-old Shea Lacey by tying him down to his first professional contract. According to exclusive information from FootballTransfer, the teenage winger from Liverpool will soon sign an official contract with Man Utd. Celebrating his 17th birthday on April 14th, Lacey is set to receive a dream gift as he prepares to commit his future to the Red Devils.

Lacey, dubbed the “Liverpool Messi,” has already made an impact in the U18 Premier League this season, scoring two goals and providing three assists for Manchester United in just 436 minutes of play. He has also featured in three UEFA Youth League matches, including two appearances off the bench, and scored a goal against Galatasaray in a 3-0 victory.

With Manchester United facing recent injury concerns, Lacey has been seen training with the first team, indicating that the talented 17-year-old is highly regarded and expected to contribute in the near future.

The imminent signing of a professional contract by Manchester United demonstrates that Lacey will have more opportunities going forward, although his involvement with the first team will ultimately be the decision of the manager, whether it’s Erik ten Hag or someone else following the summer transfer window.

However, the Dutch manager is clearly a fan of the versatile young talent. Reports suggest that Ten Hag has been in negotiations with Lacey regarding a long-term contract since August last year, at a time when the promising midfielder was being closely monitored by several top clubs in Europe.

Manchester United has emphasized their commitment to bringing the best products from their academy in recent months, with the emergence of players like Kobbie Mainoo, who has seen regular first-team action.