Defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka has become the third Manchester United to refuse a move away from Old Trafford this summer, it has been reported, with the defender the latest to paralyse Erik ten Hag’s recruitment plans.
The Red Devils have endured a tough start to the season, and fell to a meek 2-0 defeat to Tottenham on Saturday. The need for reinforcements was evident, despite the club having already signed three players for a combined £170m this summer.
However, thanks to financial fair play issues, Ten Hag’s side have had to sell players before they can add to his ranks, and that is proving difficult. So far, only Fred, Alex Telles, Anthony Elanga and fourth choice goalkeeper Matěj Kovář have departed the club on permanent deals.
A big money move for Dean Henderson to move to Nottingham Forest appears to have fallen through, while there have been fewer suitors than anticipated for the likes of Eric Bailly, Anthony Martial and even Jadon Sancho.
Two players set to leave are Donny van de Beek and Brandon Williams, though a loan looks more likely than a permanent deal for both players. After the game, Ten Hag explained both were expected to depart.
“We need players who are totally with their heads in our team”, he told the Manchester Evening News.
Now, the Mail have revealed another spanner in the works. They report that defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka has joined Harry Maguire and Scott McTominay in refusing to leave the club this summer, due to the fact that he would have to accept a lower wage packet to do so, something that saw Maguire’s proposed transfer to West Ham fall through.
Unlike the other two, Wan-Bissaka has at least featured this season, starting both of the opening games of the season, but it is no secret that Ten Hag is keen to add a more proficient full-back to his ranks with links to Jeremie Frimpong having been floated at the beginning of the transfer window.
With the Red Devils demanding high prices for their deadwood, and failing to shift anywhere near enough stars this summer, their transfer plans have been quickly derailed and though they are still keen to sign a midfielder in the last two weeks of the window, it is by no means a certainty.
