With pre-season reaching its conclusion, Erik ten Hag could well sanction several loan departures at Manchester United.
Dean Henderson and Alvaro Fernandez are the two United players to have left the club on loan so far this summer.
Henderson has joined Nottingham Forest on a season-long loan where he’ll be looking to establish himself as Steve Cooper’s number one after enduring a frustrating season at Old Trafford last year, which brought no Premier League game time whatsoever.
While Fernandez has joined Championship outfit Preston North End in what is his first loan move away from the Reds.
With the summer market closing in 31 days time, we’ve put together a Manchester United XI that could leave on loan before the transfer window closes.
Manchester United XI that could leave on loan
GK – Nathan Bishop
The former Southend United youngster, who spent last season on loan at Mansfield Town, was part of Ten Hag’s pre-season travelling party but he didn’t get any game time.
After making 53 appearances for the Stags last season, which included a League Two play-off final outing, the 22-year-old looks set to go out on loan once again.
According to the Mail, Bishop is expected to join League One side Wycombe Wanderers who D’Mani Mellor joined as a free agent earlier in the summer.
Matej Kovar’s proposed loan move to Cheltenham Town has fallen through.
RB – Ethan Laird
The MEN report that the 20-year-old is expected to join Watford on a season-long loan following the conclusion of pre-season.
Laird made three appearances under Ten Hag during pre-season and it seems that the academy graduate is higher up the right-back pecking order than £50m signing Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
Having spent the first half of last season on loan at Swansea City, Laird joined Bournemouth in January and made six appearances for the Cherries who secured automatic promotion.
CB – Di’Shon Bernard
The former Chelsea youngster didn’t form part of the 31-man squad that travelled to Thailand and Australia.
Bernard spent last season on loan at Hull City where he made 28 appearances and the Reds are likely working on finding Bernard’s loan destination for the forthcoming season.
CB – Teden Mengi
Another young defender who desperately needs a loan move is 20-year-old Mengi who also hasn’t featured under the former Ajax manager.
After being handed his Champions League debut against Young Boys in December, Mengi joined Birmingham City on loan in January.
Following an impressive start to life at St Andrew’s, Mengi’s time with the Blues was hampered due to injuries.
LB – Brandon Williams
With Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malacia and Alex Telles all ahead of Williams in the left-back department, the England Under-21 international may have no choice but to seek a move in order to secure regular first team football.
Having missed the pre-season tour due to a ‘small issue’, Williams is yet to return to training at Carrington.
CM – Ethan Galbraith
The Northern Ireland international has captained United’s under-21 side during the team’s friendlies over the summer.
Galbraith spent last season on loan with Doncaster Rovers in League One and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him go out on loan again before the window shuts.
CM – Hannibal Mejbri
The talented Tunisian is expected to leave Manchester United on loan this summer with four Championship clubs interested, according to Sky Sports.
The 19-year-old has featured in three of Ten Hag’s pre-season friendlies, but a season in the second tier of English football, playing week in, week out could be the best move for the former Monaco teenager.
Finding the right club for Hannibal where he’ll play and fit the style of play will be crucial. He has 16 international caps already and will want to play ahead of the World Cup.
RW – Tahith Chong
The former Netherlands Under-21 international spent last season on loan at Birmingham, but the winger missed a large chunk of the season after picking up a groin injury.
Chong has been used during pre-season, but after the Reds took up the option to extend his contract by 12 months, a loan move looks the most likely outcome.
AM – Shola Shoretire
The MEN reported back in July that like Fernandez, Shoretire wasn’t part of the 31-man squad that travelled to Thailand and Australia as they were expected to complete loan moves.
The former Real Madrid man has sealed his loan move but Shoretire’s destination for the forthcoming season remains up in the air.
The 18-year-old came off the bench in United’s 1-1 draw against Rayo Vallecano.
LW – Facundo Pellistri
The Uruguayan scored United’s fourth goal in our 4-0 win against Liverpool to kick off Ten Hag’s tenure.
Like Chong, Romano believes that Pellistri will also be sent out on loan this as well.
The former Penarol man re-joined Alaves on loan last season having spent he second half of the 2020-21 campaign in Spain.
Pellistri barely featured for the Spanish side last season and with the World Cup looming, the speedy winger will want assurances of minutes whichever team he joins.
ST – Amad
The Ivory Coast international is the third Manchester United player that Romano has tipped to depart on loan.
The teenage signing from Atalanta has got minutes during pre-season and scored against Vallecano but a full season out on loan where he’ll be playing regularly can only benefit his development.
The 20-year-old scored three goals in 13 appearances for last season’s Europa League finalists Rangers, but United’s number 16 found himself on the fringes of Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s starting XI.
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