When Erik ten Hag knew that he would be boarding a plane to Thailand on July 8, he would have hoped to have been accompanied by more than just one summer signing.
But the Manchester United manager boarded the flight at Manchester Airport with just one new addition to his squad, that being left-back Tyrell Malacia. United have made a slow start to proceedings this summer and their tally of just one new recruit, more than a month into the transfer window, is not what the Dutchman or the fans would have had in mind four weeks ago.
United are actively working on several deals, trying to bring Lisandro Martinez, Christian Eriksen and Frenkie de Jong to Old Trafford, but they have not made the progress they would have hoped for. The new campaign kicks off in less than a month's time and Ten Hag is losing valuable time in trying to gel his intended new-look team together.
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But while the Dutchman, who will take charge of his first match on Tuesday when United face Liverpool in Bangkok, will be frustrated by the lack of new additions so far, some players on the periphery of the first-team squad might be quietly relieved, in the sense that a shortage of new faces could mean that they get the chance to try and grab Ten Hag's attention while in Thailand and Australia.
Ten Hag has taken a bloated 31-man squad with him on United's first pre-season tour in three years, meaning that gives him the option to rotate his pack and experiment in the upcoming matches. Pre-season is the ideal time for any manager to tinker, not least one who is new to the job and looking to learn more details about his players at every given moment.
Several youngsters have been included in the squad and right-winger Facundo Pellistri is among them. The 20-year-old joined United almost two years ago and is still yet to make his senior debut for the club. He made three appearances in pre-season last year and has not pulled on the famous red shirt since.
But considering United have not found a solution to their right-wing struggles yet this summer, despite continuing to express an interest in Ajax ace Antony, the tour could represent the ideal opportunity for Pellistri to at least force his way into Ten Hag's thinking ahead of the season opener against Brighton & Hove Albion next month. He spent last season on loan at Spanish side Alaves but struggled to have any sort of impact, being restricted to a paltry 750 minutes worth of first-team football.
It was a sorry state of affairs and a waste of a year in his development. However, nobody could have foreseen how it was going to map out at the time of the paperwork being signed.
Despite his struggles with Alaves, however, Pellistri has been making impressive noise on the international stage with Uruguay this calendar year. He has racked up six caps since making his debut in January, claiming three assists in the process, meaning he has put himself in a strong position to make their World Cup squad later this year.
But if he is guaranteed to make the plane to Qatar without the slightest degree of uncertainty, he needs to be playing regularly at club level. That is why it remains possible that he could leave United on loan again this summer, particularly if they lay their hands on Antony or an alternative right-wing option.
But until United make a breakthrough on that particular front, Pellistri will fancy his chances of being given a run in the side on the right. Jadon Sancho is expected to continue on the left, meaning Marcus Rashford could be considered as the Uruguayan's biggest threat in pre-season. Amad will also want to throw his hat into the ring.
There's nothing to say that Pellistri will become United's first-choice right-winger off the back of a few decent showings, nor would he force United into a climbdown in pursuit of a right-sided winger, but he is an option available to Ten Hag as things stand. The Dutchman is renowned for experimenting with youth and Pellistri is no exception.
If United do land a right-sided winger, a back-up option and strength in that area will still be needed. If Pellistri plays his cards right, this could be his breakthrough year at Old Trafford.
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