Late Man Utd arrivals labelled ‘bad news’ for quartet – including Ten Hag’s own signing
The four deadline day arrivals sanctioned by Manchester United could have dire consequences for a quartet of current Red Devils stars, according to a report.
Man Utd succeeded in solving numerous issues on deadline day, with the imminent arrival of Sofyan Amrabat the highest profile addition.
The Morocco international was recorded boarding a plane headed for Manchester earlier on Saturday. Amrabat will initially join on a season-long loan that also contains an option to buy. If the option is activated, the total cost of the deal (including future add-ons) is £30m.
However, Amrabat was by no means alone in signing up for the red half of Manchester.
Indeed, Jonny Evans penned a one-year contract to add depth at centre-half. Elsewhere, Altay Bayindir was drafted in from Fenerbahce to provide back-up to Andre Onana, while Sergio Reguilon was loaned from Tottenham.
Now, according to a piece from the Manchester Evening News, United’s four deadline day arrivals could spell bad news for a quartet of stars in particular.
Heaton, Maguire, Malacia, McTominay on notice
Firstly, Bayindir’s £4.3m arrival from Fenerbahce will jettison Tom Heaton down to third in the pecking order.
Third-choice stoppers rarely get a look-in, even at clubs who are expected to compete on four fronts like Man Utd. As such, barring an injury to Onana or Bayindir, Heaton may not play a single competitive match for the Red Devils this term.
Secondly, Evans’ one-year deal is speculated to be yet another obstacle between Harry Maguire and any meaningful action.
Raphael Varane, Lisandro Martinez and Victor Lindelof were already in front of Maguire in Ten Hag’s mind. With the Dutchman impressed by Evans in pre-season and willing to offer him a contract, Maguire might now be fifth choice at best.
Elsewhere, Reguilon’s arrival was necessitated by the fact Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia are both currently injured. Brandon Williams was loaned out to Ipswich Town, while Alvaro Fernandez joined Granads on loan on deadline day.
As such, Reguilon is expected to walk straight into United’s starting eleven until such time as Shaw returns. But if the Spaniard impresses, Malacia will drop to third choice out of three players fighting for one spot.
Finally, Amrabat’s switch from Fiorentina is likely to leave McTominay ‘questioning where he fits in’.
The Scotland international was already out of favour under Ten Hag, with Casemiro, Mason Mount and Christian Eriksen all preferred in the middle.
Amrabat will immediately challenge for starts and push McTominay down another notch in the pecking order.
Nonetheless, one pundit believes Man Utd’s decision not to sell McTominay will prove the right call…
READ MORE: Ten Hag warned plan to sell ‘top player’ was a ‘travesty’, with Man Utd lucky he’s still there
