Manchester United have three players out on loan until next summer, including Mason Greenwood after his well-publicised move to Getafe. Last Word on Football analyses the progress of these three young talents.
Manchester United Loan Update – Three Talents at Different Stages of Their Careers
Watch: Manchester United are completely broken
Álvaro Fernández Carreras – Granada
The 20-year-old is in his second loan spell away from Old Trafford, having spent last season with Preston North End in the Championship, where he made 42 appearances in all competitions. The former Real Madrid and Deportivo academy prospect is comfortable on the left side of midfield or at left-back.
The Spanish under-21 international has an impressive work rate and is comfortable taking the ball down the flank. He could have had a role for United considering the injury crisis at left-back this season, but he is gaining experience on loan at Granada who were promoted after claiming the Spanish first division title in 2022/23. He revealed that Erik ten Hag was not keen on integrating him into the first-team setup ahead of his departure.
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It has been a relatively frustrating start with his new club, as Granada are sitting in the relegation zone and the player has yet to establish himself as a regular. Predominately used as a left-sided midfielder, Álvaro has started four games in La Liga with a further six cameos from the bench. Carlos Neva is a fixture at left-back so there may be scope for the player on loan from Manchester United to become a regular further forward.
It will be a test of his ability and determination as there is an opportunity for him to become a regular starter in this Granada side and prove to Ten Hag that he is capable of playing to a high level ahead of his return to Old Trafford next year.
Mason Greenwood – Getafe
🚨🚨| Mason Greenwood scores a wonder goal for Getafe. pic.twitter.com/eU81o3g7V8
— centredevils. (@centredevils) November 25, 2023
The circumstances surrounding Greenwood’s departure from Manchester United on loan are not the focus here, and he has been a relative success with Getafe sitting in mid-table after almost half the La Liga campaign. The 22-year-old had started to become a fixture on the right wing for Manchester United but was equally comfortable in a more central position.
He was described as ‘a very talented footballer’ by TalkSport’s Simon Jordan while his future was up in the air during the summer transfer window. It did appear as though the world was at his feet before his Manchester United career was derailed by off-the-field incidents.
The England international has shown his versatility in La Liga and has seen most of his game time come as a left winger. He has two league goals and three assists after 11 appearances, eight of which have been starts. It must be remembered that he has missed a lot of football over the last year so his impact so far has been impressive.
There were two further strikes in a 12-0 Copa Del Rey victory against lower-tier opposition taking his total to four goals and three assists from 12 appearances. The winger started the recent 2-0 defeat to Las Palmas, which ended a run of three consecutive league games with a goal involvement for Greenwood, whose contract with the Red Devils expires at the end of the 2024/25 season.
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It will be interesting to see if he can kick on further once he settles in this Getafe side. His numbers are good so far, but running up the numbers could secure him a big move within Europe or a return to Manchester.
Brandon Williams – Ipswich
23-year-old Williams has made 51 appearances for Manchester United but has never managed to convince managers that he is capable of holding a place in the first-team squad and this is his second spell out on loan. He is a natural left-back and spent a season on loan at Norwich in 2021/22, where he played regularly but couldn’t prevent the Canaries from suffering relegation from the Premier League.
His loan spell at The Tractor Boys, who are flying high in the Championship, has been a success so far with Williams playing regularly at right-back and adding two goals to his team’s cause. The former England under-21 international has been left out of the side in recent games and must fight to regain his place with Ipswich looking on course for a return to the top-flight for the first time since 2002.
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It does feel as though the player might have found his level with Ipswich and his contract at Manchester United is set to expire at the end of the season, although there is an option to extend it for another year. The club will be expected to do this as they will seek a transfer fee if Williams is to be moved on next summer.
