Diogo Dalot's early return to a frozen Carrington on Friday might have elicited a frosty reception from fellow right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
Wan-Bissaka started both of Manchester United's friendlies and might have expected to start against Burnley in the League Cup on Wednesday. Dalot was last seen hobbling off in Al Thumama but this is a right-back who has been available for 69 of United's last 70 games.
Full-back Brandon Williams is available to Erik ten Hag and so is left-back Tyrell Malacia, unused by Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal in Qatar. West Ham are interested in Wan-Bissaka and this is a period where managers remove players from selection if they are intent on a new club in the new year.
Also read: Ten Hag is making a statement with De Jong and Bellingham interest
Morgan Schneiderlin and Memphis Depay spent all of December 2016 on the sidelines, having notified Jose Mourinho of their wish to move in January. West Ham are interested in signing Wan-Bissaka on loan two years on from borrowing Jesse Lingard. Ten Hag is more decisive than Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to pass up on a substantial summer fee after a productive loan.
Back in July, a colleague said their friend had bet on West Ham to finish above United this season. The bookies are safe. West Ham's best team in decades could not finish above United's worst team in decades last term and the Hammers are currently 16th.
David Moyes has struggled so much to settle on a right-back Thilo Kehrer, a centre-back by trade, started there in West Ham's last three Premier League games - all defeats.
The agency that represents Wan-Bissaka are tight with West Ham, so their interest is understandable and Wan-Bissaka has as stoical a profile as Moyes.
The 25-year-old has made six United squads all season and played four minutes. Jettisoning Wan-Bissaka mid-season would be leverage to recruit a more dependable right-back to support Dalot.
Wan-Bissaka has struggled to settle in Manchester and he is still highly regarded by Crystal Palace supporters. Their chairman Steve Parish would be interested in facilitating a homecoming - only for a cut-price fee. Palace manager Patrick Vieira has had to alternate between 33-year-old Joel Ward and Nathaniel Clyne, 31, at right-back.
Permanent outgoings at United in January are unrealistic. Sources have suggested clubs will delay decisions on players' futures until training grounds have welcomed back all World Cup participants, at which point final assessments will be conducted.
Facundo Pellistri's agent has already outlined his intention to move the Uruguayan. Looking beyond January, John Murtough ought to be WhatsApping Edwin van der Sar about Donny van de Beek in an attempt to recoup some of the cash United paid Ajax for Lisandro Martinez and Antony.
Ajax have re-signed Davy Klaassen and accommodated Steven Bergwijn in recent years. Six of their squad members tried and failed in the Premier League and Ajax would be a haven for Van de Beek; a route back into the Netherlands squad Van Gaal exiled him from.
The lifestyle aspect is vital. Van de Beek met his partner, Estelle Bergkamp (daughter of Dennis) while he played for Ajax and they welcomed their baby daughter Lomée in April. Van de Beek, 26 in March, can still have a fulfilling career at club and international level, especially as Ronald Koeman is back in post.
Dean Henderson is enhancing his reputation at Nottingham Forest with uncertainty rife in the United goalkeeping department. Sevilla have dropped into the relegation zone since Alex Telles arrived but he at least has the cachet of Brazil World Cup squad status.
Eric Bailly lasted nine minutes on his last appearance for Marseille and could become as unsellable as Phil Jones. Marseille only have an obligation to sign him for €6m if he plays a certain number of games. Bailly averaged fewer than 20 games per season in his first six years at United.
With five senior centre-backs in Ten Hag's squad, Bailly is already frozen out.
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