Manchester United appear to have all but confirmed that Anthony Elanga and Dean Henderson are about to leave the club. The winger and goalkeeper were among four players not involved in Saturday night’s pre-season friendly win against Arsenal at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey alongside new signing Andre Onana and the injured Anthony Martial.
Elanga is thought to be closing in on a move to Nottingham Forest. The 21-year-old academy graduate flew out to the United States but is understood to be heading back to England to conduct a medical and complete a £15million switch to Forest.
The Sweden international has made 55 appearances for United, scoring four goals, and his absence from the 28-man squad to face Arsenal suggests his exit is indeed imminent. He will end a nine-year affiliation with the Red Devils with his move to Nottingham.
There was also no place for Henderson in the squad, with Forest also keen to sign the keeper after having him on loan at the City Ground last season. Another loan deal proposal was made to United for the 26-year-old, who has made just 29 of his 199 club career appearances at United with the rest coming at other clubs where he was on loan.
Ten Hag this week signed Onana from Ajax for £47million and the Cameroonian will replace David de Gea as his first-choice shot-stopper. That means Henderson has no long-term future at Old Trafford if he wishes to be the No 1, a goal he has made publicly clear for several years.
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And his absence against the Gunners may mean he’s getting nearer and nearer to a move. New man Onana was not involved against Arsenal after only a few days’ training in the US. Elsewhere Martial – who has also been linked with a summer exit – is recovering from a hamstring injury and so was not risked having also missed the 2-0 Oslo win over Leeds 10 days earlier.
Other senior players who didn’t play at the 82,500-seater MetLife – home of NFL franchise the New York Jets – included Fred. The Brazilian may have played his last competitive match for United but is only absent from pre-season due to a ‘personal issue’. United added that Fred is ‘expected to join up with the rest of the squad shortly’.
Alex Telles and Eric Bailly have not travelled across the Atlantic with both to leave this summer. Telles is expected to join Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia with Bailly potentially joining him at the Saudi Pro League outfit. Tyrell Malacia is also not in the States due to injury.
United meanwhile defeated Arsenal 2-0 thanks to first-half strikes from Bruno Fernandes and Jadon Sancho. Aaron Ramsdale was poor for the opener with a Gabriel Magalhaes error leading to the second goal. There was a worry for the winners in the second half though when Amad suffered an injury that saw him limp off the pitch.
The two teams also enjoyed a penalty shootout after the final whistle which did not impact the final result. United won 5-4 on spot-kicks with Fabio Vieira the only player to miss for the north Londoners.