Manchester United compete on four fronts and manager Erik ten Hag is aware of the need to maintain a strong team.
Quite a few players have expressed their desire to go on loan considering the lack of minutes they have received so far this season.
One of them is Anthony Elanga, who has made seven starts in 19 appearances in all competitions this season.
After his great campaign under Ralf Rangnick last season, there was a feeling that the young Swede would start this season with Ten Hag.
Elanga has had problems under ETH
But he hasn’t managed to make the same kind of impact with just assists to show his efforts, and generally doesn’t impress when given the chance.
The feeling at the club was that a loan move could make the 20-year-old and his confidence very good with Premier League sides Everton and Bournemouth both interested.
But the Dutch manager wants the player to avoid the uncertainty of playing for a relegation-threatened team and has therefore blocked Everton’s attempts to sign the Swedish international on loan.
???? | NEW: Borussia Dortmund don’t have the money to buy Anthony Elanga, but he is a serious option for them. So it would be a loan. HOWEVER, they are looking to sell players to make a permanent offer on Elanga. [@cfbayern, @caughtoffside] pic.twitter.com/F9KkKaj4ea
— SimplyUtd (@SimplyUtd) January 20, 2023
Borussia Dortmund emerged as a surprise suitor for Elanga with the United academy graduate also set to join the Bundesliga giants.
Dortmund’s track record in developing youth players has made the decision an easy one for Elanga, but the final decision remains with the United manager.
Interestingly, there was initially talk of Dortmund bringing him on loan for six months, but the club is also thinking of a permanent move in the summer.
For that to happen, it will be necessary to generate funds through the sale of players, but the idea remains intact.
Dortmund could try to fund a permanent move for Elanga
“Anthony Elanga is a serious option for Dortmund, he’s on the list but they don’t have the money to buy him so it would be a loan deal,” Christian Falk revealed exclusively in his Substack column for CaughtOffside.
“Sporting director Sebastian Kehl may try to sell some players (such as Thorgan Hazard) in the next six months to help finance a potential permanent deal for Elanga.
“I heard there are no talks yet, but the idea is in Dortmund,” Falk added.
With Facundo Pellistri also generating a lot of interest and Jadon Sancho’s return date yet to be determined, it remains to be seen what Ten Hag ultimately decides.
Elanga certainly has the potential even though his age means he hasn’t managed to shine as consistently as people would have liked.
So will the club decide to take the risk and get rid of him permanently knowing what has happened to the previous graduates of the academy?
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