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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has moved to assure Donny Van De Beek that he is well loved and appreciated by Manchester United despite his lack of opportunities to date.
The Old Trafford giants swooped in to sign the highly rated 23-year-old from Ajax for 34.1 million pounds. but things have not gone as well as the Dutch international expected.
While Van De Beek has made 20 appearances in all competitions, the majority have come from the bench. In fact, the midfielder has so far only made two Premier League starts.
As such, Ronald de Boer has urged the 23-year-old to consider leaving this month. Van de Beek’s Dutch partner insisted that his compatriot should think about his role at the European Championships next summer.
There has also been claims Van de Beek refuses to speak to mediaHe’s so upset about his struggles with United.
However, the arrival of summer will make his ninth start in all competition against Watford in the FA Cup third round on Saturday.
And in a bid to quell transfer rumors, Solskjaer has insisted the midfielder remains happy at United.
“I have answered this question so many times,” Solskjaer said. “There are so many examples of players who need a little time, quality players.
“We ourselves have many examples and there are other clubs with examples. Sometimes it takes time.
“You don’t expect people who care about him to shut up sometimes, especially when they want the best for themselves.
“Donny is going to play on Saturday. That is another opportunity for him and, yes, I have spoken with him and I have reiterated and made him aware of how much we value him.
“But he will play tomorrow and that is a good opportunity to play again.”
There is also increasing talk about the future of other players on the periphery. In fact, Brandon Williams has been linked to a temporary move, with Newcastle and Everton leading the chase.
Having been restricted to just five appearances after an impressive season, Solskjaer is understanding.
“With the signing of Alex Telles and the form of Luke Shaw, he really hasn’t seen the left back this season,” Solskjaer said of the 20-year-old academy graduate.
“I think he played in all three semi-finals – Europa League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup – and had a great first season.
“This season has been more difficult for him. I think he’s hung his head, he’s been working really hard lately.
“He will be involved tomorrow. He’s on the team and he has shown me that he wants to fight this.
“That is the most important. You know that when you find your first big contract, you do it well, can you recover after not being on the team that much?
“Brandon has shown that lately, so I hope he carries on like he does. He knows my opinion on it, he knows my opinion on him and we believe in the boy. “
Williams signed a deal through 2024 with the option of one more year last August.
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Fosu-Mensah heading out of United
A man that It seems certain that he will go is his defense partner Timothy Fosu-Mensah. The Dutchman is wanted by clubs in France and Germany and is approaching the final months of his contract.
“I’m not sure if Tim is going to stay or if he’s going to make a choice now,” Solskjaer said.
“He hasn’t played enough, so of course he was allowed to talk to the clubs with a view to leaving now in January.
“It’s difficult when you have good players, talented players and you can’t give them playing time. You are now at the stage where you need to go play again.
“It may be at the end of January or it may be in the summer that I find somewhere else.
“He’s working hard, Tim, so he’s ready for a move to whatever club he feels ready for.”
Solskjaer has relied on a group of trusted defenders, but his difficulties dealing with set pieces flared again costly in the 2-0 Carabao Cup semi-final loss to Manchester City.
“It is something that we have addressed and that we need to improve,” Solskjaer said. “When we don’t have the first contact, we have been punished quite severely, and more often than anyone else.
“Because we are quite good at first contact, defending the ball, but when we haven’t conceded too many goals.
“I think we are very high in the statistics when we don’t have the first contact that we concede.
“That is a concern, of course. It’s a concern when you concede goals, but at times we have defended very well ”.
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