Manchester United

Manchester United

Premier League • England

Ten Hag takes late decision over Man Utd struggler’s exit after West Ham and Prem rivals advance

Aaron Wan-Bissaka, James Garner, Cristiano Ronaldo of Man Utd, August 2022

Manchester United will reportedly not move on Aaron Wan-Bissaka this summer following previous claims of talks and fresh news of West Ham interest.

United spent £50million on the right-back in 2019 and he proved a cornerstone of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team. In fact, he missed only seven Premier League games in his first two seasons.

But when Ralf Rangnick became interim manager last season, the German mixed and matched at right-back between Wan-Bissaka and Diogo Dalot.

And current boss Erik ten Hag has made Dalot his first-choice right-back, leaving Wan-Bissaka without many minutes.

As such, reports on Monday claimed that Man Utd had intensified talks about a swap deal with Barcelona. Wan-Bissaka would move to La Liga and United would get Ten Hag’s former Ajax ally Sergino Dest in return.

However, the latest from The Athletic is that Wan-Bissaka is not going nowhere. Indeed, Man Utd ‘do not intend’ to move the 24-year-old on before Thursday’s transfer deadline.

The most recent report also details fresh interest from West Ham and Palace.

Wan-Bissaka gets Premier League interest

Palace boss Patrick Vieira knows about Wan-Bissaka’s quality and eyed a return to Selhurst Park for the full-back.

West Ham, meanwhile, have already brought in former Chelsea star Emerson Palmieri at left-back and are now seeking a reinforcement on the opposite flank.

But Man Utd have turned both of their approaches down, insisting that Ten Hag wants Dalot and Wan-Bissaka in his squad.

The Athletic adds that United would need to sign a replacement if their second-choice right-back left. Although, there is ‘little expectation’ of that taking place.

Nevertheless, reports have talked of Old Trafford interest in a number of right-backs, which still leaves Wan-Bissaka’s future up in the air.

Alongside USA international Dest, Inter’s Denzel Dumfries and Benjamin Pavard of Bayern Munich have been on the Red Devils’ radar this summer.

Man Utd man needs to battle through

If United do not sign a new right-back and Wan-Bissaka continues to play second fiddle to Dalot, he looks like he is in for a tough ride until the January transfer window.

The full-back has only played four minutes of Premier League action this season. Those came in the 2-1 win over Liverpool.

And bearing in mind four games of the season have already elapsed, his chances of game time do not look good.

Of course, United now face a gruelling Thursday-Sunday schedule with their Europa League group stage campaign. They could also enjoy a run in the Carabao Cup.

That can offer Wan-Bissaka hope of more game time. Still, Dalot is chasing a new contract with his current terms expiring next year. So, the Portuguese will want to impress as much as he can.