Do Manchester United's Loan Players Have a Future Under Louis van Gaal?
Manchester United spent heavily on six new signings over the summer, but do the eight players they allowed to leave on loan have a future under Louis van Gaal?
In the past, young players at United have gone abroad or dropped down the divisions in order to gain experience. Rarely, however, have they returned to hold down a first-team spot and become a key player at Old Trafford.
This summer, for example, Van Gaal sold Danny Welbeck to Arsenal and sent Tom Cleverley to Aston Villa. Both players went on loan during their teenage years but were unable to command a regular place in the starting XI upon their return.
As two of United’s most fancied prospects in recent years, their departures illustrate how difficult it is to make the grade at one of the world’s biggest clubs.
Let’s take a look at the chances United’s current crop of loan players have of bucking the trend.
Tom Cleverley
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Tom Cleverley has been hard-working and industrious since his loan move to Aston Villa, but he has offered little in the way of creativity or inventiveness in attack.
It’s hard to imagine that Van Gaal will regret allowing the 25-year-old to leave based on his nine appearances under Paul Lambert so far.
Cleverley played for United in a 1-1 draw at Sunderland in August, and even though he has looked more comfortable playing in a three-man midfield at Aston Villa, it’s likely that the game at the Stadium of Light will be his last for the Red Devils.
It’s difficult to envisage a scenario whereby Cleverley plays regularly for Van Gaal’s United.
Wilfried Zaha
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Wilfried Zaha has played 30 minutes of Premier League football for United since he signed in January 2013.
A loan spell at Cardiff City during the second half of last season appeared to do little for his chances of a return to first-team football at United, and he has been in and out of the team since his move to Crystal Palace on loan this August.
On the face of it, Zaha has it all. He is pacy, tricky and a full-back’s nightmare when he is in full flow. Putting all of it together on a consistent basis remains his biggest challenge.
Crystal Palace is the best place for Zaha to be right now, but even then it’s unlikely he will be able to convince Van Gaal that he deserves a spot in United’s star-studded squad.
Javier Hernandez
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Javier Hernandez is probably the most talented player United allowed to leave on loan this summer, if only because he has an uncanny knack of putting the ball into the back of the net.
The Mexican has scored three times for Real Madrid in La Liga this season at an average of one every 49 minutes, which is a good return.
The problem, however, is that his role hasn’t changed since he left Manchester for Madrid. He remains an impact substitute, coming off the bench late in games. That’s likely all he can expect at a top club like Real Madrid or United.
Barring a significant change of circumstances, it's unlikely that Hernandez will be a part of Van Gaal’s future plans, particularly as the Dutchman seems intent on fast-tracking James Wilson’s development.
Nani
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As usual, Nani remains something of an enigma.
Struggling to find any form of consistency for United in recent seasons, he appears to be rejuvenated on the back of his loan move to Sporting Clube de Portugal.
The 28-year-old has scored four goals in five Champions League games this season, and the same attacking verve that marked his early years at United is once again a feature of his play.
Of all the players United currently have on loan, Nani is the most likely to be back at Old Trafford next season, particularly if he continues to impress.
Angelo Henriquez
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Angelo Henriquez has hit a rich vein of goalscoring form since he joined Dinamo Zagreb in Croatia.
The Chilean has scored three times in the Europa League this season at a rate of one goal every 78 minutes.
Unfortunately for the 20-year-old, United are not short of top strikers. A trio of Wayne Rooney, Robin van Persie and Radamel Falcao convinced Van Gaal that he could afford to let Danny Welbeck leave over the summer, and it’s only a matter of time before Wilson earns a starting spot.
For Henriquez, an extended loan spell away from United or a permanent move to Dinamo Zagreb seems likely, even though he has impressed in Croatia.
Nick Powell
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Nick Powell has mainly featured for Leicester City's U21 side this season, coming off the bench twice for the first team to play a total of 25 minutes.
The 20-year-old could quite easily have stayed at United and played for the U21s, so his loan move to Leicester has as yet been unsuccessful.
The Foxes will find themselves in a relegation scrap this season, which is unlikely to help Powell as he bids to gain experience of Premier League football.
The midfielder’s long-term future may yet rest at United, but he will probably need to go on loan once again before he figures in Van Gaal’s first-team plans.
Sam Johnstone
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Sam Johnstone finds himself in an unfortunate position as a goalkeeper at United.
With David de Gea still only 24, the Spaniard could command the No. 1 spot for the next decade quite comfortably.
For Johnstone, that means his chances will be few and far between under Van Gaal, particularly as Anders Lindegaard is currently United’s second-choice goalkeeper.
A second loan move to League One side Doncaster Rovers will at least ensure Johnstone gets more playing time, but it’s difficult to see him ever lining up for Van Gaal’s United in the Premier League.
Michael Keane
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Much like Powell, Michael Keane has played a number of times for Burnley’s U21 side since he joined on loan from United in the summer.
The 21-year-old did, however, impress when he came off the bench in Burnley’s last game against Stoke City, earning the praise of his manager Sean Dyche, per Chris Flanagan of the Lancashire Telegraph:
"Keano came on and what a fantastic performance that was from the young man. Trust me, I was a centre half and that was an ugly game to come into. I thought he was terrific for however many minutes he was on. That was a big growth for him as a young man.
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It was perhaps telling that Van Gaal was prepared to let him leave in the summer, keeping Tyler Blackett in the process, but injuries may see Keane stay with United in January.
Verdict
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As it stands, Nani is the one United player out on loan who could earn a recall under Van Gaal. Whether he would welcome a return or not is another matter, but it's nonetheless a boost to see him recapturing some form in Portugal.
Henriquez, Powell, Johnstone and Keane are all still young and relatively inexperienced, which means that further loan spells or permanent moves away are a real possibility.
Hernandez and Zaha, despite only being on loan at Real Madrid and Crystal Palace, could secure transfers to the respective clubs next summer. It's hard to see either player having a long-term future at United.
As for Cleverley, his future remains unclear, although it's unlikely that it lies under Van Gaal at United.
All statistics via WhoScored.com and Squawka.com.
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