Transfer Centre

Erik ten Hag provides transfer update on defensive trio

By Matt Law, Football Editor | 26 August 2022

Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag says that Phil Jones, Brandon Williams and Axel Tuanzebe are unlikely to leave the club this month.

Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag has said that Phil Jones, Brandon Williams and Axel Tuanzebe are unlikely to leave the club before the end of the transfer window.

All three players are believed to be surplus to requirements at Old Trafford, with the trio strongly linked with exits since the end of the 2021-22 campaign.

Man United have loaned Eric Bailly to Marseille, and the club had allegedly been hopeful of also offloading Jones, Williams and Tuanzebe before the transfer deadline.

However, speaking during Friday's press conference ahead of the Southampton clash, Ten Hag said that all three players are likely to stay at Old Trafford this summer.

"It can be but we are talking about players who are not available so I don't think they will go out in this window," the Dutchman told reporters when asked about the trio.

Brandon Williams in action for Manchester United in the Europa League on February 25, 2021 © Reuters

Williams did not travel with Man United on their pre-season tour of Thailand and Australia due to injury, and he has also not been involved in the early stages of the 2022-23 campaign.

The 21-year-old has represented the Red Devils on 50 occasions in all competitions, but he spent last season on loan at Norwich City, making 29 appearances for the relegated Canaries.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka could re-join Crystal Palace before the deadline, which would leave Man United short of options at right-back, so Williams could potentially provide backup for current first choice Diogo Dalot.

Jones and Tuanzebe are unlikely to be considered for selection, though, with the centre-back duo down the pecking order at Old Trafford.

Lisandro Martinez, Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof and Raphael Varane are all ahead of Jones and Tuanzebe in the thoughts of Ten Hag.

Napoli's Axel Tuanzebe before the match on January 9, 2022 © Reuters

Jones has been with Man United since 2011, featuring on 229 occasions in all competitions, winning the Premier League, FA Cup, Community Shield and Europa League in the process.

The defender spent almost two years on the sidelines with a knee injury between January 2020 and January 2022, though, which has seen his career stall.

Jones did make five appearances for the Red Devils last season, including four outings in the Premier League, but he has not been training with the first team since Ten Hag's arrival.

The Englishman has entered the final year of his contract at Old Trafford and could potentially depart on a free transfer next June.

Tuanzebe, meanwhile, was a part of Man United's pre-season tour but flew home after the first game in Thailand, and the 24-year-old found it difficult to impress in loan spells at Aston Villa and Napoli last term.

The defender has made 37 first-team appearances for the Red Devils, with his most productive campaign coming in 2020-21, when he featured on 19 occasions in all competitions.