Not Just Wan-Bissaka – Erik ten Hag ‘lines up’ next Man Utd star to follow Cristiano Ronaldo out exit door
Manchester United are preparing for life without Cristiano Ronaldo - and other players deemed surplus to requirements by Erik ten Hag in the January transfer window.
Erik ten Hag is apparently set to bid farewell to Aaron Wan-Bissaka during the January transfer window.
Manchester United has lined up the 24-year-old right-back to follow Cristiano Ronaldo out the door, has become surplus to requirements this season. Ten Hag has given Wan-Bissaka just four minutes of playing time since taking over this summer, preferring the in-form Diogo Dalot on the right of his four-man defense.
With Ronaldo’s £480,000 contract canceled and an acrimonious departure announced, United are still rebuilding their roster, and the former Crystal Palace star appears to be the next to leave Old Trafford.
According to the Telegraph, Ten Hag is looking to trade Wan-Bissaka and sign a new right-back in January. Dalot’s form has made it a challenging year for the £50 million man, a figure that is unlikely to be recouped in any transfer.
Wan-Bissaka is claimed to receive £90,000 per week on a contract that extends until 2024, an amount that will almost certainly decrease if he moves to a new location. During the summer transfer window, Palace expressed interest in bringing back their academy graduate on loan rather than re-signing him on a permanent basis.
Ten Hag recently welcomed the Croydon-born defender back into his team after a brief absence, but he didn’t play him before the Red Devils left for the World Cup. Earlier this month, United boss Jose Mourinho discussed Wan-situation Bissaka and hinted that he intended to keep him for the rest of the season.
“Aaron Wan-Bissaka battled as well, but on a different side,” Ten Hag stated after naming him to the bench for United’s 1-0 Europa League triumph over Real Sociedad. “Because of injuries and illnesses, he was frequently unavailable, although this isn’t a major issue. It’s about him getting in shape and competing with Diogo in the second half of the season.”
If he does depart, who could the Red Devils bring in to replace him? Barcelona’s Sergio Dest, who is presently representing the United States of America at the World Cup, has been mentioned for a reunion with Ten Hag following their successful spell working together at Ajax.
Meanwhile, Barcelona could make a play for Borussia Dortmund right-back Thomas Meunier, who they would have done if they had sold Dest during the summer. The Belgium international, 31, has a very different profile than the 22-year-old Dest, who is more technically skilled but has Meunier’s massive physique.
