Keep, sell, loan - Erik ten Hag ‘makes decision’ on transfer status of three Man Utd youngsters

With the transfer window in full swing, Erik ten Hag is making careful plans regarding the personnel in his Manchester United squad.

The arrival of Andre Onana is set to be confirmed imminently, and United will then turn their attention to signing Atalanta striker Rasmus Hojlund. There are still plans to bring in a midfielder, preferably Sofyan Amrabat, and United will then assess their squad again in the final stages of the window, with Ten Hag open to selling a plethora of first-team players over the coming weeks.

The United manager has previously spoken of the importance of promoting youth and has acknowledged the talent the Red Devils have in their underage ranks, with a number of Under-21 players getting minutes over the opening two pre-season friendlies.

Kobbie Mainoo has started both matches against Leeds United and Lyon, and has impressed in a deeper midfield position. The Manchester Evening News are now reporting that the teenager will play a senior role in the squad this term, having been on the fringes in the 2023/24 campaign.

The MEN claim Mainoo has been ‘informed’ of Ten Hag’s decision, and won’t be sent on loan. The midfielder has ‘impressed’ senior players at United, with the club also turning down loan offers for Mainoo in January.

While one youngster appears to be sticking about, another looks to be heading out on a short-term transfer. Matej Kovar played 90 minutes in the win over Lyon on Wednesday, but looks set to head back on loan to Sparta Prague. The goalkeeper won the Czech league title last season with Sparta and, as per BBC Sport’s Simon Stone, is set to return to the club this season.

Elsewhere, Charlie Savage is in talks to join League One side Reading. The Sun report the midfielder could join the Royals on a permanent basis, while there is also interest from Cardiff, Rotherham and Portsmouth.

Savage has played one senior match for United, when he came off the bench in the latter stages of a Champions League draw with Young Boys in December 2021. He also spent last season on loan at Forest Green Rovers.

Should Savage depart, he will join fellow youth-team players Ethan Laird, Zidane Iqbal and Ethan Galbraith in leaving permanently this summer.