Barnsley and Stockport County among League One sides battling for Man Utd, Ethan Williams deal | OneFootball

The Tykes and the Hatters are racing to secure a loan deal for Manchester United striker Ethan Williams.

Barnsley and Stockport County are among a host of League One clubs hoping to strike a loan deal for Manchester United striker, Ethan Williams.

The Tykes have been busy making additions to Conor Hourihane's squad this summer, in what is the 34-year-old's first full season in charge at Oakwell.

Tennai Watson, David McGoldrick, Reyes Cleary and Nathaniel Ogbeta respectively, are just some of the new faces through the door so far this summer, as the club looks to put their disappointing 12th-placed finish last season behind them, and push for promotion once again.

Stockport have also made a number of eye-catching additions to Dave Challinor's side this summer, despite having lost some important players such as Tanto Olaofe, Will Collar and Fraser Horsfall respectively.

Arttu Hoskonen, Tayo Edun, Brad Hills and Nathan Lowe are a few of County's new additions, as the Hatters attempt to go one better than their play-off semi-final defeat to Leyton Orient last term this time around.

Barnsley and Stockport County chasing Manchester United, Ethan Williams deal

Both of these clubs will no doubt be looking to make further additions right up until the 1 September transfer deadline, as they go in search of League One promotion-winning campaigns.

One player that could have a decision to make over whether to make a move to Oakwell or Edgeley Park this summer, is Manchester United forward, Ethan Williams.

That's because according to a report from journalist Pete O'Rourke via X on Saturday morning, both the Tykes and the Hatters are among a number of League One clubs chasing a loan agreement with the Red Devils for the 19-year-old.

O'Rourke claims that United are ready to green light a loan move away from Old Trafford for their promising young forward, who has been in the Red Devils' academy system since 2022.

Williams has already announced himself to the Man United faithful this summer, having netted the fourth in United's 4-1 win over Bournemouth in the Premier League Summer Series in pre-season.

Williams does have EFL experience under his belt too

Evidently, Manchester United feel that Williams is ready to get an extended taste of senior football away from Old Trafford this season.

However, it a loan move to the EFL won't be his first rodeo.

Williams spent the second half of last season with League Two side Cheltenham Town, and he certainly left an impression in Gloucestershire.

The teenager bagged two goals and provided a further two assists in 17 league appearances in Michael Flynn's side, as the club recorded a 15th-placed finish in their first season back in the fourth tier following relegation from League One in 2023/24.

So, based on this evidence, Williams should be ready to test himself in the third tier, and with Premier League loans always possessing the potential to have a real impact for an EFL side, it's perhaps no surprise to see a flurry of clubs taking an interest.

United, regardless of the well-documented struggles when it comes to their first-team performances in recent times, always have a superb production line of young talent coming through Carrington.

Williams appears to a very promising young prospect indeed, and could be a wildcard addition that makes all the difference in a potential League One promotion race for either Barnsley or Stockport County.