Ravel Morrison
Morrison is still in talks over a new deal with Manchester United. REUTERS

Manchester United have sent John Cofie to Belgian side Antwerp on loan, with the club continuing to work out a deal for Michael Keane and agree on a contract with Paul Pogba and Ravel Morrison.

Reserve team manager Warren Joyce confirmed the loan signing of Cofie, who at 18 years old has impressed for the Red Devils' second tier side this season.

"It's a fantastic opportunity for him," Joyce told Sky Sports.

"It's another country and a place where you look at the players who have been there - Jonny Evans, Fraizer Campbell, Darron Gibson, Danny Simpson, Lee Martin, Craig Cathcart, Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, John O'Shea, Ryan Shawcross - all players who have played in the Premier League.

"I know from first-hand knowledge that he'll get a lot of experiences over there that he can't get here."

Michael Keane was reportedly also offered the chance to head to Belgium on loan, but the United youngster turned down the opportunity.

Sir Alex Ferguson is working hard to get his younger players out on as many short term deals as possible, after the United manager was disappointed by their overall fitness level in the Carling Cup match up with Crystal Palace in November.

"It [the defeat] bothers me in the sense that the level of training we do was let down," Ferguson said after the game, in which United were knocked out of the compeition by their lower league counterparts.

"Every young players wants to play and we have to give them that opportunity."

Two young players who have been particularly quiet over the past month in relation to loan deals are Paul Pogba and Ravel Morrison, whose contracts both run out in the summer.

And the United youngsters are both said to be making demands on the club that Ferguson refuses to match, with the Scotsman confirming as much in relation to Morrison yesterday.

"His agent has been working hard to get him another club," he told reporters. "We've offered him terms which he has refused.

"His contract demands are unrealistic but we will see how that progresses."

Pogba's situation is said to be the same, and the duo are set to enter into more talks as the month continues.

Ferguson will be hoping to hold onto as many of his youth players as possible, and in particular Pogba, who moved to Old Trafford from French side La Havre in controversial circumstances in 2009.