Donny van de Beek faces an uncertain future at Manchester United and is one of several fringe players who could be on the move to pastures new over the coming months.
The 26-year-old was restricted to just 10 appearances in all competitions for United in the 2022/23 campaign, which was Erik ten Hag's first in charge at Old Trafford. After a half-season on loan at Everton, Van de Beek linked back up with his former Ajax manager.
However, Van de Beek's first season under Ten Hag has followed the trend of his United career so far. After sparkling for Ajax, the Dutchman has just two goals to his name in 60 games for United since his 2020 move.
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Van de Beek is contracted until the summer of 2025, with United having the option to extend the deal by a further 12 months. However, Van de Beek is one of several squad players who could be moved on this summer.
While United are keen to sell players this summer in order to raise funds for new arrivals, some fans may believe it's better for the Dutchman to head out on loan in a bid to regain fitness and potentially return to the club with more self-belief and confidence than he's shown in his time at Old Trafford so far. However, judging by what Ten Hag has said of Van de Beek previously, leaving the club on loan definitely won't be happening.
Speaking last November as he explained what the attacking midfielder needs to do to improve at United, Ten Hag claimed another loan move would not make sense. It seems that a permanent switch is the only way he departs Old Trafford this summer.
Ten Hag said: "I don’t think the loan makes sense. It’s either he fights and proves himself in this environment or he goes. But, for me, there is still a way for him. It’s not going to be easy for him because the competition there is really strong.
"I have seen he is not on the scoring list, he is not on the assist list and he can do better. He is still not there on his limits, I have seen him better in the past, definitely. But I think positioning wise he is acting quite well. But he has to make that step with pace and intensity.
"We have the romantic idea of the No.10 as a playmaker giving the final passes, that they have to play in the middle of the park.
"But it is difficult there because nowadays all the good teams close the middle of the park, so it is really difficult to get a lot of ball touches.
"So that is also not the player who Donny van de Beek is but what he is doing well in his positioning and his movement together with the strikers, especially with the No.9, that combination. He is really good in positioning and anticipation in and out of possession, he did that to my satisfaction in the last games."
Ten Hag clearly knows there's a player in there, but whether he can help Van de Beek show it is another matter entirely.
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