Erik ten Hag needs to offload five Manchester United loanees before transfer window shuts
Man United need to start speeding up the process in relation to outgoings in order to bring in new faces.
From left to right: Alex Telles, manager Erik ten Hag and Hannibal Mejbri. (Image: Getty Images.)
Manchester United announced their latest permanent departure on Saturday, confirming that goalkeeper David de Gea had left the club following 12 years of outstanding service.
United and the Spaniard failed to reach an agreement over a new contract, resulting in the former Atletico Madrid shot-stopper being released. He has joined the likes of Ethan Laird and Zidane Iqbal in leaving M16 since the transfer window opened last month.
Manager Erik ten Hag, who wants to replace De Gea with Inter Milan goalkeeper Andre Onana, planned to be ruthless when it came to outgoings this summer and De Gea’s exit shows that he is putting his plan into practice. However, he now needs to maintain that level of ruthlessness to continue clearing the decks.
United’s squad is awash with deadwood that needs cutting out and offloading this summer. The likes of Harry Maguire, Brandon Williams, Donny van de Beek and Fred are just some of those at risk of following De Gea out the door.
Want to join our MUFC Pro club for a totally ad-free version of the MEN’s Man United app packed with premium features? Click here.
Ten Hag also has some big decisions to make on several members of last season’s loan army. United sent a plethora of players, both young and experienced, out on loan last term to try and secure them some much-needed minutes.
Some fared better than others, benefitting from playing week-in, week-out, whereas some are now even further away from forcing their way into Ten Hag’s plans than they were a year ago. With that said, MEN Sport has taken a close look at what the future might hold for seven members of the squad and delivered a verdict on what the Reds should do with each of them.
Dean Henderson
As things currently stand, Henderson is the best goalkeeper at the club. He spent last term on loan at Nottingham Forest, racking up 20 appearances, and is an England international.
However, his stint on the banks of the Trent was derailed because of a season-ending injury that he sustained in January. Forest, however, still want to re-sign him and a permanent exit from Old Trafford could be in the best interests of all parties.
Henderson has burnt certain bridges at Old Trafford and it is hard to see him ever becoming the club’s No.1 goalkeeper, particularly if United get a deal for Onana over the line. He deserves first-team football and that is unlikely to be offered to him in M16, meaning a permanent exit, which should generate a substantial amount of money, would be best for everyone.
Verdict: Sell.
Matej Kovar
Kovar was one of five goalkeepers pictured in first-team training at Carrington last week, suggesting that he could be given the chance to prove himself during pre-season. He spent time on loan at Czech side Sparta Prague last term, making 32 appearances.
Manchester United youngster Matej Kovar. (Image: Manchester United/Manchester United via Getty Images.)
Presuming Onana checks in and Henderson departs, Tom Heaton will almost certainly take second place in the pecking order. It means Kovar could then compete with Nathan Bishop for third place if a second goalkeeper is not signed.
Obviously his hunger for regular game time will dictate his mindset, but he could use pre-season to challenge for a place in the first-team, albeit further down the pecking order than he would like. Pre-season should decide his future.
Verdict: Keep (for now).
Eric Bailly
Bailly was farmed out on loan last August, joining French club Marseille for the duration of the 2022/23 campaign. Marseille had the option to buy him on a permanent basis if he reached a certain number of appearances.
He failed to do that, meaning United are now stuck with the task of trying to offload him again, this time permanently. By hook or by crook, they must find him a new home this summer, even thought it will mean accepting a huge financial loss.
Everyone knows that he has no future at Old Trafford and it would be in the best interests of everyone to offload him as soon as possible.
Verdict: Sell.
Alex Telles
Like Bailly, Telles also left United and went abroad last summer, joining Sevilla. He made 38 appearances for the Spanish club, featuring a five-minute cameo appearance in their 3-0 win over the Reds in the Europa League in April.
Try MUFC Pro for FREE
Subscribe to our brilliant app for the best way to enjoy the M.E.N’s unrivalled Manchester United coverage.
No adverts, pop-ups or distractions – just our brilliant content presented in the best way possible.
Comprehensive, round-the-clock coverage of the Reds, with agenda-setting breaking news and insight from Samuel Luckhurst and our authoritative team of United writers
Exclusive content for subscribers across next season
New interactive elements including (coming soon) quizzes to test your United knowledge.
You can get started by downloading our app here on iPhone, or here on Android. You can get your free one-month trial, auto-renewing annually at £19.99. If you already have our app, click on the ‘MUFC Pro’, ‘Subscribe’ or ‘ Remove ads’ links.
United are well-stocked at left-back and Telles is not understood to be part of Ten Hag’s forward-thinking plans, meaning he is another member of the squad that should be shown the door once and for all. It would make no sense to retain him.
Verdict: Sell.
Alvaro Fernandez
One of the most successful members of United’s loan army last season, Fernandez excelled at nearby Preston North End. He made 42 appearances for the Championship club, earning a wave of plaudits.
His season-long stint at Deepdale marked the first loan spell of his senior career and there is no doubting that he made the most of it. However, though there may be a temptation to see what he is capable of in United colours this forthcoming season, it could make more sense to send him out on loan again, this time, perhaps, to a Premier League club to see if he can handle the step up in quality.
There is no doubting that the Spaniard has all of the hallmarks of a modern day full-back, but his progress risks being impacted if he goes a full season without barely playing. A loan move to a Premier League club could prove beneficial.
Verdict: Loan.
Hannibal Mejbri
Like Fernandez, Hannibal also spent last season on loan in the Championship, thriving in the colours of Birmingham City. The Tunisian, who has made three first-team appearances for the Reds, played 41 times for the Blues, scoring one goal and grabbing six assists.
However, he has returned to United with a plethora of household names ahead of him in the midfield pecking order. It means there is no obvious pathway to the first-team to earn regular opportunities.
Hannibal Mejbri impressed on loan at Birmingham City. (Image: Eddie Keogh/Getty Images.)
Borussia Dortmund have expressed their interest in signing him on a permanent basis and that could be the best move for all parties, not least Hannibal, who has shown enough to suggest that he deserves regular game time. If United can bag a decent fee for another youngster, it could be a wise move.
Verdict: Sell.
Amad
The jewel in United’s loan crown from last season, Amad made the most of his time at Sunderland, rifling in 14 goals and grabbing four assists. He was exceptional and got better and better as the season developed.
He returns to Old Trafford with a realistic chance of breaking into the first-team fold, provided he does enough in pre-season to justify a place. Antony is in desperate need of competition on the right-wing and Amad could provide it.
United fans are hungry to see him after the success of loan spell on Wearside and he has earned the opportunity to try and impress Ten Hag. It is up to him, however, if he takes his chance or not.