Ten Hag U-turn ensures Man Utd are ‘willing’ to sell defender as Prem rivals ‘plot’ £22m bid

Man Utd are reportedly ‘willing’ to sell Aaron Wan-Bissaka this summer despite his recent resurgence under head coach Erik ten Hag.

Wan-Bissaka was one player who looked likely to leave the Red Devils last summer. He was criticised last season and Ten Hag made it clear ahead of this campaign that he would be using Diogo Dalot at right-back.

The Portugal international shone during the first half of the 2022/23 campaign, while Wan-Bissaka was limited to just a single substitute appearance in the Premier League.

Since the World Cup, Wan-Bissaka has come into the team and he has made the most of this opportunity. He started seven games in a row in the league and Ten Hag said last month that he is “making good progress”.

“He’s picking up the coaching and he’s making good progress from the start of the season to now,” Ten Hag said.

“He was in a bad situation because he was not fit. He had a lot of injuries, he had a couple of illnesses in the first half of the season before November, but things changed during the break.

“He worked well in the training camp and he had some good performances in the games. I think he’s making good progress and against Crystal Palace was one of our best players.”

Wan-Bissaka was not involved earlier this week as Man Utd drew 2-2 with Leeds United due to illness. Ten Hag has confirmed that he is likely to be back in time for Sunday’s return fixture at Elland Road. 

Football Insider have seemingly jumped the gun after Wan-Bissaka did not feature in midweek, as they are reporting that United are ‘willing to sell’ the defender this summer.

His contract is up in 2024 but United do have the option to extend his deal by a further year. They ‘value Wan-Bissaka at £22m plus’ and a summer transfer is viewed as ‘the most likely outcome’.

It is noted West Ham, Crystal Palace and Wolves have been interested in him but it is the Hammers who ‘remain keen on landing the right-back’ and they are ‘plotting’ a bid. This is because Ben Johnson and Vladimir Coufal’s futures are ‘uncertain’.

Ex-United player Paul Parker has been impressed by Wan-Bissaka of late and he has likened him to Arsenal’s Oleksandr Zinchenko.

“Wan-Bissaka has definitely stepped up and he has raised his own bar,” Parker told MyBettingSites.

“He is not perfect at all but it looks like he has the willingness to do a really good job.

“He has been very brave and he reminds me a bit of Zinchenko. There are not a lot of English full-backs that can play the way he is playing.

“Ten Hag is in a really good position on that right fullback position. He has two really good players but it’s up to Diogo Dalot to reclaim his position.

“I think a lot of Man United fans would agree that there is no need to get a new right back. Wan-Bissaka and Dalot can do the job very well.”

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