Ten Hag has “sent big message” to £50m star to leave Old Trafford

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag sent out a ‘big message’ to Aaron Wan-Bissaka by not including him in the Red Devils’ last Premier League fixture versus Fulham, according to Sky Sports journalist Dharmesh Sheth.

It has been suggested that Wan-Bissaka’s absence was a clear hint to ‘look for another club’.

Manchester United transfer news – Aaron Wan-Bissaka

Back in August, Dean Jones informed GiveMeSport that ten Hag wanted the former Crystal Palace defender “out the door” at Old Trafford.

But it seemed Wan-Bissaka was given a stay of execution heading into deadline day, with Fabrizio Romano telling GMS that he was unlikely to leave due to United struggling to source a replacement.

Tellingly, however, the 25-year-old has gone on to make just one appearance in the Premier League this season, as per Whoscored.

Wan-Bissaka made a four-minute substitute appearance as United closed out a 2-1 win over Liverpool back in August.

He’s yet to feature for them in any competition since, and with the January transfer window just around the corner it seems likely Wan-Bissaka will be linked away once again.

What has Dharmesh Sheth said about Wan-Bissaka’s Old Trafford future?

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Sheth stated that ten Hag’s decision to omit Wan-Bissaka from the squad that faced Fulham prior to the World Cup, despite starting right-back Diogo Dalot being unavailable, sent a clear message to the Croydon-born defender.

Sheth told GMS: “If you look at what happened in the last game before the World Cup break, United went to Craven Cottage. Diogo Dalot was suspended for that game, and you would have expected Aaron Wan-Bissaka to fill in. But Wan-Bissaka wasn’t even in the squad at all, which probably sends a big message out to him to say; ‘look for another club.’”

Why hasn’t it worked out for Wan-Bissaka?

Wan-Bissaka proved he was a promising talent when he broke into the Crystal Palace first-team whilst still a teenager, later prompting a £50m move to Old Trafford.

However, the United outcast’s best qualities are more defensive in nature. He’s averaged at least 2.5 tackles and 1.7 interceptions per game in all of his Premier League seasons to date, compared to less than 1 key pass per game and a career best of 0.3 shots per game.

While there’s nothing wrong with being defensively resolute, most top clubs simply prioritise more offensive-minded full-backs these days.

When you compare to Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold (2.8 key passes per game last season) or Chelsea’s Reece James (1.8 key passes per game last season), there is an obvious difference.

Wan-Bissaka is unfortunately something of a throwback, which makes him ill-suited to the technically-demanding philosophies we now tend to see at the top of the Premier League.

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