Manchester United duo battle for the same squad slot amid raise of transfer speculaltions

Competition for positions within the squad is high, as Man United have a plethora of options in the wide areas ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.

Fans of Manchester United who plan to visit Murrayfield Stadium on Saturday will be anticipating an even greater experience than those who attended the Lerkendal Stadion on Monday.

United initiated their pre-season campaign with a lacklustre 1-0 loss to Rosenborg in Trondheim, resulting in a forgettable performance. The scoreline would have been catastrophic if Radek Vitek had not been between the posts.

A patched-up XI was deployed by Erik ten Hag, who relied on a collection of the club’s academy talent to supplement the squad. Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Jonny Evans, Mason Mount, Hannibal Mejbri, Marcus Rashford, and Casemiro were the sole first-team players to appear.

United’s decision to leave players such as Harry Maguire, Antony, Amad, Victor Lindelof, and Andre Onana at home was due to a variety of factors. Visitors to Murrayfield will anticipate that the aforementioned quintet will be in attendance, as this would render their visit more enjoyable.

Before departing for their official preseason tour in the United States next week, United will play their penultimate match against Rangers. The Reds will compete against Arsenal, Real Betis, and Liverpool in three encounters on the other side of the Atlantic.

The United team defeated Arsenal 2-0 in the inaugural game of their trip to the United States last summer. Nevertheless, the triumph was overshadowed by Amad’s knee injury, which shattered his aspirations to be included in Ten Hag’s plans for the campaign’s commencement.

He was absent for five months and did not return until the 2-1 loss to Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on December 30. The Ivorian had returned to Old Trafford at the conclusion of the 2022/23 campaign, following an impressive loan stint at Sunderland. It was anticipated that he would vie for a position in the squad.

Despite his return with half of the season remaining, Amad concluded the campaign with only 12 appearances, which prompted inquiries as to why Ten Hag was so hesitant to select him. Nevertheless, he capitalised on a significant opportunity that presented itself towards the conclusion of the season, demonstrating his abilities against both Newcastle United and Arsenal.

He was unfortunate not to be included in the FA Cup final, as Ten Hag reinstated Rashford to the starting lineup. However, he concluded the campaign by demonstrating his ability to perform in a United uniform. Consequently, it is evident that United are of the opinion that he is capable of contributing in the future.

However, what potential function could that serve? Ten Hag is knee-deep in wide options, both on the right and the left, when examining the current landscape of United’s roster. These options require pruning. Jadon Sancho’s future is not as clear as it was this time last week after clearing the air with Ten Hag, while Facundo Pellistri is the most probable candidate within that department to be sold.

Ten Hag’s mid-season tactical experiment last December involved the transfer of Alejandro Garnacho to the right flank, where he was arguably more effective than on the left. Garnacho is anticipated to become a consistent fixture on the right side if Rashford remains and regains his peak performance.

Consequently, Amad may be at odds with Antony for the second position in the right-wing succession order. A significant number of United supporters would prefer to see Amad receive the edge over Antony in light of the Brazilian’s difficulties during the previous season.

Amad’s contract at Old Trafford expires in June of next year; however, he has the option of an additional year. Consequently, he is on the brink of the most significant season of his career to date. However, United may shortly exercise their option if he consistently exhibits the same level of performance as he did at the conclusion of the previous season.

At the age of 22, Amad’s greatest potential remains untapped, and his subsequent progression in his United career may involve consistent outings from the sideline. He was on the brink of becoming Antony’s reserve on the right at this juncture last year; however, he is now vying for the same position.

Antony has regressed, and as a consequence, Amad is currently striving to maintain his lead. He will be prohibited from discussing an exit if he accomplishes that objective.