Manchester United currently have one of the best squads in world football. In the summer transfer window, they signed Tom Heaton, Jadon Sancho, Raphael Varane and Cristiano Ronaldo. As a result, on paper, Solskjaer’s options to pick his team from are absolutely brilliant. However, there is also an increased competition for places at Old Trafford right now.
One of the players who has struggled to break into the first-team during his time at the Theatre of Dreams is Donny van de Beek. He arrived with a lot of expectations last summer but has spent most of his time on the bench recently.
Van de Beek is believed to have been close to leaving the club in the summer itself. But a move failed to ultimately materialise and he remained at the club.
Everton were the club who came close to signing him on loan in the summer and the Toffees’ director of football, Marcel Brands, has not ruled out a move for Van de Beek in the future. As reported by NOS, he said:
"“You always depend on whether a club wants to cooperate. And it is early October, so much can still happen with injuries. United are playing on various fronts, it’s hard to say now.”"
Does Van de Beek have a long-term future at Manchester United?
Since joining Manchester United last summer, the 24-year-old has not quite managed to make his mark. And considering the incredible depth at the club right now, it is not hard to see why he has not played a lot of football recently.
His best position is perhaps in the no. 10 position. But, with Bruno Fernandes’ incredible performances there since arriving at Old Trafford in January of 2020, it has been very difficult for Van de Beek to get significant minutes in that role.
This season, he was expected to play further down the pitch as one of the two players in the double pivot in Manchester United’s midfield. But he has not featured there a lot either, despite impressing when given the chance. Thus, if Van de Beek was to leave the club in the future, it should not come as a huge surprise.