Ethan Laird has completed a medical in Swansea today after two weeks of hold ups and speculation regards the 20 year old Manchester United prospect. There have been delays, a week ago it was agreed a loan in principle would go ahead, but then other factors came in to play.

Manchester United have been very clear that their injury situation would always reflect who would leave the club on loan this season. That was the first hurdle for the swans to overcome in getting Laird to come to the swans for the ‘whole’ season. The same applies to James Garner, but the Old Trafford club are keen to see him develop in their squad system if possible. Laird spent a very successful 24 games at MK Dons with Russell Martin last season, that was the initial clincher for the player to want to know more about the loan move. Manchester United were also keen to see him tested at a higher level and Swansea City are as perfect a match as they could get to see his development progress.

They also wanted him tested fitness wise in a number of reserve games before any progress could be made with Swansea.

Manchester United have a firm and clear protocol when allowing their more sought after prospects to join clubs over a whole season. This time around the length of the loan was the initial issue, Swansea wanted no recall clause and no fee applied for his services. Having already suffered greatly with Morgan Gibbs-White last January the swans didn’t want their fingers burned again. That issue it seems ‘may‘ have ironed itself out. The loan fee wasn’t as big a deal, but United insisted on a full repayment of his £4,800 a week salary.

However, it was interesting to speak to a valued contact regards what else Manchester United insist on before a player leaves their fold. She explained that United have many clauses for their player, not only to protect him, but to ensure his development progresses in line with his current development plan. His accommodation and location of that accommodation is primary, and this has to include ‘appropriate’ security for the player and any visiting family and friends. His personal training plan has to be implemented as well. The loaning club has to have coaches with the correct qualification and recognised experience in delivering, and more so understanding why the player needs this plan. Medically he has to be catered for with more than the usual fitness testing, with reports being sent to Manchester frequently with clear annotation as to what has been analysed and what actions are being taken. The training plan and medical reporting has to be to United’s high standards, and any deviation could easily lead to the player being recalled. This will certainly be included in the loan contract.

Manchester United have a very successful dieting process for each individual player, it has been described as so minute in detail, and so well implemented it can increase a players energy and overall fitness by another 25%. This is also crucial to the loan deal. The club need properly trained nutritional professionals who also understand the reasoning behind the players diet and why. Ongoing reaction to the diet and suggested tweaks are a daily detail for coaches and the player alike to monitor.

Academically Manchester United insist on all their players obtaining relevant qualifications, not only in sporting development but also in non football arenas. This can be as simple as attending sessions on verbal communication, personal awareness and their behaviour, and impact on others to completing degrees in a certain subject. Many players now get involved in coaching and development from their mid 20’s, that’s not something any club insists on but they will support the whole process financially and allow the player time to attend and complete assignments and courses.

All these details have to be agreed upon by the loaning club and as we have seen with Ethan Laird it can take time. Appearances are always a sticky subject for a club loaning a player to another club. Their is little evidence of any club insisting on an amount of appearances during the loan spell, but they’re is plenty of evidence of a club wanting to know ‘why’ their player isn’t featuring in the match day squad. Brendan Rodgers used to loan in players just to give them an ‘experience’ of being around a match day squad as a young professional. He was very keen to tell clubs who loaned their players to Swansea that development isn’t all about playing games. It’s about training methodology, off the pitch behaviour, becoming a contributing member of a group, and being able to display their improvement and understanding.

A club loaning a player from Manchester United has to be able to show they fully understand all of the players development, not just his ability to pass the ball to a player on the same side he plays on. Understanding tactics and changes in game management are as key to any players development as any other feature of their game. Football intelligence is often spoken about, but how that is deleivered and again understood is crucial.

Close monitoring of a players off field integration with colleagues, and even as far as those who are not connected to the club is extremely important. News stories these days from allegations of sexual offences to drug taking isn’t unusual, and there are many unscrupulous people out there looking to earn a few bucks on the back of a players weaknesses. Sponsorship is pretty much tied up via the players parent club through their agents, a player like Laird won’t have to be concerned about every day life distractions like bills, purchases, sponsorships or media encroachment. It’s all taken care of. A bit like waking up in the morning and knowing there is nothing you need to worry about, ever. This in turn proves a real developmental point and why Manchester United insist on personal awareness training. Marcus Rashford has benefitted greatly from this at Old Trafford.

A Manchester United loan is potentially far more difficult to obtain to that of a general transfer within a transfer window. The player leaving a club is no longer a responsibility, a loan player with a potential 25 million price tag is far more important. That’s a lot of cash to just hit and hope.

Ethan Laird is no doubt a key player to Russell Martin’s season managing at a high level, but it’s only fair we all understand just what’s involved, especially when the next eight months could see the parent club benefiting to the tune of millions that most of us can only dream about.

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Photographs licensed from Reuters

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