Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag has, on Friday, provided a fresh insight into the future of midfielder Donny van de Beek.
The name of Dutch international van de Beek, of course, took its place centre stage in the headlines on the red half of Manchester late last night.
Unfortunately for the 25-year-old himself, though, this came for altogether less than positive reasons.
After being afforded a rare opportunity to impress in a Carabao Cup showdown with Aston Villa at Old Trafford, van de Beek failed to step up to the plate, in frankly alarming fashion.
After managing fewer completed passes than United shot-stopper Martin Dubravka over the course of the first-half, vdB was hooked shortly after the interval, culminating in swift calls on the part of the Red Devils faithful for the club’s long-struggling midfield star to be moved on at the earliest opportunity.
Speaking to the media on Friday, it therefore came as little surprise when the subject of van de Beek’s future was put to manager and fellow countryman Erik ten Hag.
When pressed on the chances of van de Beek departing on a loan basis in January, however, United’s head coach assured that such a move is not on the agenda.
Instead, Ten Hag urged his stuttering midfield talent to either ‘prove himself or go’:
Erik ten Hag, asked if Donny van de Beek could leave @ManUtd on loan or be sold in Jan: “A loan doesn’t make sense. Either he proves himself here in this atmosphere or he goes. For me, there is still a way for him (here). But is not going to be easy as the competition is strong”
— Simon Stone (@sistoney67) November 11, 2022
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