Hottest prospects in Leagues One and Two including youngster who Man Utd ignored

The transfer window is in full swing thanks to a clutch of eye-raising moves this summer.

The likes of Erling Haaland, Darwin Nunez and Gabriel Jesus have all been involved in big-money transfers and there are likely to be dozens more before the window slams shut on September 1. Whilst the Premier League sides get the most attention, there are plenty of talents in the lower leagues who will be under consideration. Burnley, fresh from dropping out of the Premier League last season, swooped to sign Scott Twine after his exploits in League One for MK Dons last term. The Clarets forked out a fee believed to be in the region of £4million for the 22-year-old.

Here, Mirror Football runs an eye over five players in the third and fourth tiers who could be attracting interest from clubs higher up the pyramid.

Jason Knight

Derby's young midfielder was interesting plenty of Premier League clubs last season and probably even more now he finds himself at a League One club.

The 21-year-old has already amassed over 100 games for Derby and is a Republic of Ireland international. He won plenty of praise from his old boss Wayne Rooney, who made him the club's youngest-ever captain in early 2021.

Rooney said of Knight: "He's very vocal, which is very rare for a young player these days. He gives everything in training - tackling, running. Very similar to the way I was at his age. He's a manager's dream. He gives everything."

Max Bird

Another Derby academy product, there is likely to be more than a few Championship clubs eyeing Bird up this summer.

Aged 21, he has also racked up a century of league appearances for the Rams. Despite their relegation last season, Bird put in plenty of accomplished performances and with two years left to run on his deal Derby are not under pressure to sell but are safe in the knowledge they would be suitably recompensed if they did sanction his departure.

Matt Stevens

Stevens hit an impressive 23 goals last term as Forest Green Rovers clinched the League Two title.

Aged 24, his form and goal return was enough to ensure he won a place in the EFL League Two team of the year - one of three Forest Green players to make the cut.

Having played just four games in League One during a previous spell at Peterborough, Stevens will be looking to make an impact this time around - unless a Championship side comes in for him before the window slams shut.

Ronnie Edwards

The Peterborough centre-half is only 19 but played 34 games in the Championship last season. Such is his potential that Sir Alex Ferguson last summer suggested his old club Manchester United put a bid in for him.

But the advice was ignored by officials at Old Trafford and he remained at Posh. German trio RB Leipzig, Eintracht Frankfurt and Borussia Dortmund are reportedly at the front of the queue to sign the youngster whilst Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hotspur are also said to be interested. Such is the intense interest in Edwards that during one of his recent outings for England's under-19s there were an astonishing 98 scouts present. The club rate him at around the £15-20million mark.

Looks destined to move on sooner or later.

Cole Stockton

Last season saw Stockton hit a superb 23 goals as Morecambe sealed League One survival in their first-ever campaign at that level.

Stockton stole the show with a collection of long-range stunners including an audacious stoppage time winning goal from inside his own half against Fleetwood last November. Aged 28, Stockton would command a big fee as the Shrimps know it would be mightily tough to replace what he brings to the side.