Ryan Shawcross has just turned 21 and featured in Manchester United's all-too-brief Carling Cup run last term, coming on as an extra-time substitute at Crewe before appearing in the defeat at Southend. He later went on loan to Royal Antwerp, who narrowly missed out on promotion to the Belgian top flight in the play-offs.
The Manchester United website describes Chester-born Shawcross as 'a tall and powerful central defender, who is a genuine attacking threat from set-pieces'. Whether he might be arriving on loan or with a view to signing permanently is unknown.