Manchester United
Premier League • England
Ten Hag plans to unleash Man Utd youngster on the Premier League next season, but two wingers will leave
There’s contrasting fortunes for three young Man Utd forwards, with a report revealing two will either be loaned out or sold in the summer, but one will be given a chance to shine in the first team, per a report.
Man Utd remain in the hunt for a treble of trophies this season. The League Cup has already been banked, while crucial ties in the Europa League and FA Cup against Sevilla and Brighton respectively are upcoming in the next five days.
A return to next season’s Champions League looks all but assured. United hold a six-point advantage over fifth-placed Tottenham who have also played an extra game.
If Ten Hag gets his way, United will once again be competing for multiple trophies next year. Furthermore, Arsenal have shown Man City’s stranglehold on the league can be loosened, while the great unknown surrounds whether Liverpool are capable of bouncing back.
To go deep on multiple fronts like Man City generally do, Ten Hag will require excellent strength in depth throughout his entire squad.
A new centre-forward is United’s top priority in the market this summer. However, today’s update regards the wide berths in the final third.
Ten Hag’s current frontline options (assuming Rashford reverts to a left wing role next season) are Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Alejandro Garnacho and Antony. Of the four, only Antony is a specialist on the right side.
Reinforcements would be welcomed on Antony’s flank and per the Manchester Evening News, they could come from within.
Amad Diallo to be unleashed
The MEN report loanee Amad Diallo is primed to feature in Ten Hag’s first-team plans next season.
The Ivory Coast international, 20, is currently thriving on a season-long loan at Championship side Sunderland.
Amad scored his 12th goal of the campaign in a 2-1 win over Birmingham on Saturday to keep Sunderland within reach of the play-off places.
As a left-footer, Amad operates primarily on the right wing. He’s also featured in central areas under Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray, though the MEN suggest he’ll exclusively compete with Antony on the wing back in Manchester.
Amad will reportedly be given a chance to shine in pre-season and as of today, Ten Hag is deemed ‘open’ to including him in his first-team squad for the 2023/24 campaign.
The Dutchman and his staff have reportedly been left pleased and impressed with Amad’s displays at Sunderland. They considered recalling him early in January, though decided against that course of action through fearing his development would be hampered.
It sounds like it’ll be a different story next year, however, with Amad braced to be given a chance to make his mark in the first-team at Old Trafford.
While that’s clearly excellent news for Amad, it won’t be so warmly greeted up in Sunderland. Indeed, when detailing Amad’s strengths back in February, manager Mowbray stressed he’d love nothing more than to re-sign the lively forward once again next season.
Two Man Utd forwards to leave
Elsewhere, the MEN report it’s a different story for fellow forwards Facundo Pellistri and Anthony Elanga.
Per the report, United have ‘provisionally planned’ to either loan out or sell the pair this summer.
Pellistri, 21, made his long-awaited first-team debut this season and has looked a threat off the bench in subsequent appearances.
However, more seasoning out on loan could be required. Indeed, Fabrizio Romano previously reported United plan to tie Pellistri down to a new contract before, presumably, another loan is sanctioned.
20-year-old Elanga, meanwhile, recently admitted his frustration at his lack of chances under Ten Hag back in March.
The Sun previously claimed Elanga could be sold – not loaned out – as part of a mini-Man Utd clear-out this summer.
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