Man United look to repeat transfer trick as youngsters move on

Manchester United could be about to rejig their plans for another of their talented youngsters.

Earlier this week winger Ethan Laird was recalled from his loan spell at Championship side Swansea City.

The move raised a few eyebrows, considering the 20-year-old had featured regularly for Russell Martin's side in the first half of the campaign.

Interestingly, rather than recall him so he could push for a first team spot or rejoin the club's under-23s, United instead chose to immediately send Laird back out to the second tier.

He has joined Scott Parker's table-topping Bournemouth. The reasoning behind the move has not been made public but it is thought that United see the swap as giving Laird a chance to work in different surroundings and tactical framework, as well as the obvious opportunity for him to play a part in a promotion-winning team.

Will Man United finish in the top four this season under Ralf Rangnick? Let us know in the comments

Similarly, Axel Tuanzebe cut short his season-long stint with Aston Villa to join Italian side Napoli on loan for the rest of the season.

It is not the first time the Red Devils have pulled the plug on a loan arrangement mid-season.

Last year United ended James Garner's spell at Watford. The midfielder arrived at Vicarage Road on a season-long arrangement but after a decent start with the Hornets a change in management saw his playing time diminish.

United moved to address the situation in January and recalled him before sending him back out to the second tier with Nottingham Forest. The move paid off and Garner flourished at the City Ground.

He signed a new long-term deal at United last summer before returning to Forest again, this time for the entirety of the campaign.

Now, United are reported to be considering a similar course of action regarding young midfielder Ethan Galbraith.

The Northern Ireland international is at League One strugglers Doncaster Rovers. The side are bottom of the table, six points adrift of safety.

Despite their precarious position, Galbraith has been lauded by many as the team's best player this season.

He's featured 23 times in all competitions but murmurings of interest from other clubs, according to BBC Northern Ireland, including some in the Championship, may well mean United decide to abandon the current agreement with Rovers.

They may well see more benefit from Galbraith being in a team higher in the standings or in a higher division, rather than him be part of a side fighting the drop.

New Rovers boss Gary McSheffrey recently said of Galbraith's situation: "At the moment there isn't (anything) that I've been made aware of, of any threat of us losing any of the loan players."

"You look at the likes of Ethan and Matt Smith ( Arsenal ) and the minutes they've both played, I think their clubs are happy with how much they've contributed and how much experience they're getting. We'll definitely be in contact and be reassured that we can keep them."