Manchester United will listen to offers for 3 out-of-favour players in January transfer window - Reports
Manchester United are reportedly willing to listen to offers for Phil Jones, Axel Tuanzebe and Tom Heaton in the January transfer window. The trio are out of favour at Old Trafford and will be allowed to leave if a suitable offer arrives.
Erik ten Hag is in the midst of a rebuild of the Red Devils and is reaping the benefits. His six signings from the summer, including Casemiro and Lisandro Martinez, have all impressed.
However, for Ten Hag to further strengthen his squad, he will need to count on departures. Football Insider reports that Manchester United have told Jones, Tuanzebe and Heaton that they are free to find new clubs, with their contracts expiring in the summer.
Jones, 30, is yet to make an appearance this season, with injuries plaguing most of his Old Trafford spell. He joined the club in 2011 for £16 million while the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson was still manager. He has featured just 229 times for the club, scoring six goals and providing 11 assists in 12 years.
Sir Alex Ferguson once said that Phil Jones could be Manchester United's best EVER player! 😲 https://t.co/sfZkG56kIm
Meanwhile, Tuanzebe, 25, has spent loan spells at Aston Villa and Napoli since debuting for Manchester United's senior team in 2016. The English defender has consistently failed to break into the Red Devils' first team.
Lastly, Heaton, 36, was signed on a free transfer in the summer of 2021 and has been understudy to first-choice goalkeeper David de Gea. However, Ten Hag's loan signing of Crystal Palace shot-stopper Tom Heaton hints at how he views Heaton as an option.
Jones, Tuanzebe and Heaton were not handed contract extensions when the club triggered one-year clauses in Marcus Rashford, Luke Shaw, Diogo Dalot and Fred's deals. It's understood that Heaton is more likely to stay till the summer than Jones and Tuanzebe.
Manchester United defender Raphael Varane talks up title challenge
Manchester United sealed a dramatically impressive 2-1 comeback win over Manchester City in the derby at Old Trafford on Saturday (January 14). Jack Grealish had headed the visitors in front, but Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford helped seal all three points for the Red Devils.
The victory took them to within a point of City, who're second in the league. Ten Hag's side league leaders Arsenal by nine points after 18 games, but talks of a potential title challenge from United have emerged.
Varane, who has been a key part of the Red Devils side this season, has backed claims of the Red Devils being in the title picture. He said (via ESPN):
"Everything is possible. We'll just take it game by game. It's a long way to go, and it's very difficult. The intensity of every game is incredible, the physical effort."
MANCHESTER IS REDDDDD !! ⚔️🔴 https://t.co/N4oisYvBed
Manchester United's campaign under Ten Hag this season contrasts with the woeful 2021-22 debut campaign the French defender played in. They finished sixth in the league and trophyless.