The Athletic’s Manchester United correspondent Laurie Whitwell has issued an update on the contractual situation of Tahith Chong after the club’s 5-0 win over Club Brugge in the Europa League, per a Q&A.
What’s he said?
Chong’s contract expires at the end of the season and he has been linked with an exit from the club.
Calciomercato, via Sport Witness, claims that the 20-year-old has given his approval to a move to Serie A giants Inter Milan, though he may go out on loan next season.
However, one respondent in the Q&A claimed that Chong may not have come off the bench against Brugge as he did on Thursday if he was leaving; he was introduced at half-time and provided an assist in the win.
Chong has made a total of 10 senior appearances for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men thus far this term and Whitwell believes that his future may not be cut and dry.
He wrote: “Agree Tom. Clearly his agent has been talking to other clubs and quite possibly has deals set up to go.
“But being included these last two games suggests it’s not set in stone.”
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A convincer
It may be that Solskjaer is merely attempting to show Chong that he has a clear pathway into the first-team.
Thus far in his career, the Netherlands U21 international has played 14 times for the club and one has to feel that United will be loathe to lose a young talent for nothing.
He is a versatile talent and can play on both the left and the right wing; he has scored 16 goals and registered seven assists for the club’s U23 team.
Chong slipping through their fingers would be something of an abdication of their duty to promote young players into their senior side, and it is no surprise that a club like Inter are interested in bringing him in for nothing.
It remains to be seen if this charm offensive works; Chong also played 10 minutes in the 3-0 win over Watford in the Premier League at the weekend.
At the very least, nobody can blame Solskjaer for trying.
Meanwhile, Manchester United have a big problem this season!