Ayden Heaven has needed just four games to change Manchester United transfer plans

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It has taken 18-year-old Ayden Heaven just 215 minutes of football for Manchester United to not only become a fan favourite but potentially change the narrative around Ruben Amorim's squad.

As Heaven waits for a diagnosis on a serious-looking injury to his right ankle or lower leg sustained at Leicester City on Sunday night, he can comfort himself with the fact the impact he has made at Old Trafford isn't going to be forgotten, no matter how long he spends on the sidelines.

His rapid ascent might be placed on pause - although the fact he walked out of the King Power Stadium without the need for crutches, albeit his foot was in a protective boot, looked to be reasonably positive - but his status in the squad could already be assured heading into next season.

When United spent just over £1million signing Heaven from Arsenal in January, he slotted in as the seventh centre-back in Amorim's squad, a list that doesn't include the versatile Noussair Mazraoui or the perenially injured Luke Shaw.

However, circumstances have changed quickly this season, and with Lisandro Martinez, Harry Maguire, Leny Yoro, and Jonny Evans all injured and Patrick Dorgu suspended, meaning Mazraoui is required at wing-back, an opportunity has arrived earlier than expected for Heaven.

He has taken it with both hands. He looked a promising centre-back at Arsenal, but he had a tough time in some early skirmishes against Rasmus Hojlund in a pre-season friendly in America last summer. He has clearly come on since then, and his quality on the ball and aggressive defending off it have been notable in four appearances for United.

He was outstanding in the first half at the King Power Stadium, making one superb block on Patson Daka and generally winning his duels against the lively forward. But he was immediately in distress when he went down early in the second half.

In the short-term, his injury will add to Amorim's woes. Victor Lindelof and Matthijs de Ligt are now the only fit centre-backs at the club, although Mazraoui can slot back into the back three now that Dorgu has served his three-game domestic ban.

There will be changes at centre-back into next season, however. Lindelof and Evans are out of contract this summer and set to leave the club. But the bargain deal for Heaven might have already allayed any fears about their departure.

Neither player is a regular starter when everyone is fit, with Martinez, Yoro, De Ligt and Maguire the four centre-backs who have played most often under Amorim. Heaven looks ready to be the fifth choice based on the limited evidence we've seen so far.

That would leave Mazraoui and Shaw as players to offer centre-back cover, and that should be enough options to avoid going into the transfer market this summer. United have signed a central defender in five of the last six summer windows and shouldn't need to strengthen in that area again this season.

Finding the required depth through younger options such as Heaven and the versatility of Mazraoui and Shaw is even more critical when you consider United's limited budget this summer and the other areas of the squad that require strengthening.

Amorim wants to sign a striker this summer, another wing-back is likely to arrive, and the midfield could also be bolstered. Heaven's unexpected impact could make all of that possible.

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