Aaron Wan-Bissaka provided an assist for Manchester United this week, on his first start of the 2022/23 season.
The £50 million defender’s performance has the chance to change the trajectory of his Red Devils career. Erik ten Hag confirmed this after the game.
The manager told the club website: “He has a future. He has had some good years at Man United but, from the start of this season he has had a lot of illnesses and injuries. So, from the restart on, he is fit, so he could train with the team and you see him progressing.”
The situation can quickly turn. 90Min claimed four Premier League clubs hold an interest in him. However, if he can continue to improve, Erik ten Hag will be keen to keep him around.
Here is a look at three winners at Manchester United if Aaron Wan-Bissaka stays until the end of the season, at least…
Cody Gakpo
It had looked like there were two key areas to improve Manchester United in January; at right-back and in attack. However, finding funds for both may have been tricky, especially if the only way to off-load Wan-Bissaka was on loan.
If Wan-Bissaka stays, Manchester United can concentrate the available funds on signing an attacker. This makes it easier to sign the club’s top target, Cody Gakpo, with The Telegraph reporting the club are preparing to move.
Gakpo would be the real winner here, clinching his dream move, after snubbing interest from Leeds and Southampton on deadline day in September, confident a bigger offer would come his way.
He recently told Dutch outlet NRC that he is waiting on Manchester United to make an offer. With only one position to plan for if Wan-Bissaka stays, this deal becomes easier to do.
Diogo Dalot
Diogo Dalot will surely be pretty content if Aaron Wan-Bissaka stays as his competition. Erik ten Hag has already made very clear that Dalot is first choice.
This would have been less certain if a new signing was brought in. Reported targets Jeremie Frimpong and Denzel Dumfries, for instance, are Dutch internationals who would cost anywhere upwards of £20 million and possibly a lot more.
Dalot would no longer be a guaranteed starter. While this situation of extra added competition is ideal and better for Manchester United, and arguably Dalot long-term by causing him to raise his game, he would undoubtedly be keen to maintain the status quo, so he could feature as often as possible.
Ethan Laird
Manchester United keeping Aaron Wan-Bissaka until next summer provides a ray of hope to on-loan youngster Ethan Laird, who has been impressing at QPR.
Laird would have his work cut out if he returns next July to compete with both Dalot, and a new multi-million pound signing.
With Wan-Bissaka staying, he might fancy his chances of dislodging him to become Dalot’s competition. Laird’s strengths are in his attacking game, the area where Wan-Bissaka’s weaknesses lie.
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