Most absences from Manchester United’s pre-season training sessions can be explained in some way or another.
Take Joshua Zirkzee, for instance, the new £35 million striker yet to join up with the squad due to his European Championship commitments.
Tyrell Malacia, meanwhile, is staying behind as he looks to put a year-long injury nightmare behind him.
The likes of Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot are on holiday while, according to The Telegraph, the absence of Harry Maguire, Jonny Evans and £52 million arrival Leny Yoro from Friday’s afternoon session was a classic case of Manchester United looking to avoid any unnecessary strains or pulls.
Man United, the report says, are looking to manage the work-load of their players after a traumatic 2023/24 campaign in which injuries rained down on Erik ten Hag like an avalanche.
But the lack of Victor Lindelof from Friday’s session is a little more difficult to explain.
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Victor Lindelof facing Manchester United exit
The Sweden captain did not take part in this summer’s European Championships.
The Telegraph make no mention of any fitness issues either. They merely state that Lindelof sat out on Friday afternoon.
Having already played no part in the friendly clashes over Rosenborg and Rangers, The Telegraph wonder if Man United are reluctant to include Lindelof for fear that an ill-timed injury would scupper their hopes of cashing in on the long-serving centre-half.
It is no secret that United are open to offers.
It appears that either Lindelof or Harry Maguire will have to follow Willy Kambwala out the door before the Premier League giants can finalise a deal for Bayern Munich stopper Matthijs de Ligt.
The comments Maguire made on Friday, picked up by Sky Sports, do not appear to suggest that United are in any rush to kick him out the door, however.
“Unless the club tell me I’m up for sale or I’m not wanted there anymore,” says Maguire, arguably Man United’s most consistent defender last term and a pretty useful mentor for 18-year-old Yoro.
“Everything I’ve heard and the action I’ve been shown from the club, I’m part of the future and it is time to crack on and make this club successful again, challenging for the big trophies.
“That’s what this club demands.”
This, therefore, maybe leaves Lindelof as the odd one out; the unfortunate lamb that will be sacrificed at the altar of De Ligt.
Fenerbahce – who recently hired ex-United boss Jose Mourinho – are reportedly frontrunners for his signature.
Erik ten Hag wants further movement
Casemiro, Antony, Jadon Sancho, Facundo Pellistri and Christian Eriksen – who addressed his own future recently too – are among those who may also be allowed to leave before the window closes.
Ten Hag, meanwhile, is keen to avoid complacency setting in after the early arrivals of Zirkzee and Yoro. But with Ineos pressing ahead in pursuit of further targets, there appears to be little chance of that at Old Trafford these days.
“We need the squad to be as strong as possible,” Ten Hag said, via ESPN, ahead of United’s clash with top-flight rivals Arsenal.
“We already had a very good two buys, so when everyone is fit we have a team who can beat everyone, but with the squad depth we have to catch up because we had injuries, we are vulnerable.
“We have to avoid this by getting less injuries and second, our squad has to be that good. The quality we have in depth we have to catch up, but even more because this season will be the survival of the fittest.”
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