Reports suggest that Manchester United’s Facundo Pellistri and Anthony Elanga will be sent out on loan next season. Despite interest from other clubs, the two forwards have remained part of Erik ten Hag’s first team squad, but have struggled for game time due to the abundance of talent ahead of them in the pecking order. Elanga has started seven games this season, but only one of those has come after the World Cup, compared to last year when he was a regular under interim boss Ralf Rangnick. Pellistri, on the other hand, made his United debut in January after two-and-a-half years at Old Trafford, and has looked lively and impressive in his six substitute appearances.
The Manchester Evening News reports that United are planning to let the pair leave on loan next season to get them more minutes and better assess whether or not they will have a future at the club. This tactic has already been used to great effect in the current campaign with Amad Diallo, who looks set to be a key member of Ten Hag’s squad in the future with his loan spell at Sunderland going extremely well.
It is not known who would be interested in signing the two players, though Swedish international Elanga was heavily linked with multiple clubs back in January including Barcelona, Dortmund, Everton and PSV. Uruguay star Pellistri has already spent two separate loan spells at Alaves, though he failed to impress, registering no goal contributions across his 35 games and 18 months at the Spanish side.
In the meantime, both wingers will be hoping to get some more minutes under their belt when United travel to Real Betis on Thursday for their Europa League round of 16 tie, with Ten Hag’s team already 4-1 up from the first-leg.
It remains to be seen whether or not Pellistri and Elanga will have a future at United, but a loan spell could be just what they need to develop their skills and gain valuable experience.