Cooper Loaned to Academica

By Chris O'Brien
August 20 2004

Kenny Cooper is set to complete a season-long loan deal with Portuguese club Academica. The 19-year-old American forward is expected to be a regular in the Red Devils starting line-up in the future, and the move for the entirety of the current campaign will give him valuable first-team experience.

Manchester United forward Kenny Cooper is in talks with Academica about a possible season-long loan with the Portuguese club. The youngster is one of the brightest prospects at Old Trafford after joining the club last season, and is tipped to have a bright future and break into the first-team in the near future.

A season long-loan with a club like Academica would undoubtedly be beneficial for the American, who would get regular senior football and learn to cope with the pressures of the game. Should he have stayed at United, Cooper would be likely to be one of the first names on Ricky Sbragia's reserve team-sheet, but both the club and the player would surely prefer to see the play develop in Portugal.

United are currently suffering from a strike-force crisis with Ruud Van Nistelrooy, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Louis Saha all facing spells among the sidelines. However, Cooper would not yet be ready to act as cover at the highest level, and his departure will also give the likes of Sylvain Ebanks-Blake a chance to make a mark in the second-string side.

However, the proposed deal does raise further questions over the link-up agreements United have secured with other clubs across the world. Academica have no affiliation with the Red Devils, and I'm sure one of the clubs deals have been done with such as Viking or Football League outfit Walsall would have appreciated the offer of the highly-rated 19-year-old striker. These agreements seem to be of little use to the 'smaller' team involved.

It is hoped the deal will be concluded within the next day or so, meaning Cooper will spend a valuable year learning his trade with Academica. Reports in Portugal suggest the club would see the signing of the teenager as a major coup, and he would lead the line for them throughout the campaign.