Erik ten Hag made Aaron Wan-Bissaka a regular at right-back and the Manchester United star is now set to be handed a new improved contract despite initially being overlooked
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Premier League season preview: Man Utd
Erik ten Hag looks set to hand Aaron Wan-Bissaka a Manchester United extension after the right-back’s renaissance last season.
The defender moved to Old Trafford for £50m from Crystal Palace back in 2019, but after an impressive start to life has slipped down the pecking order and looked set to depart the club. Ten Hag rarely used Wan-Bissaka early in his tenure, but the former Eagle highlighted his value as the season went on.
Ten Hag is now keen to keep the 25-year-old, whose deal expires next summer. United want to extend Wan-Bissaka’s contract and also give him a pay bump on his current £100,000-a-week wages. The Daily Mail understands that talks will begin once the transfer window closes.
Wan-Bissaka had previously been on the radar of West Ham whilst there was also talk of a return to Selhurst Park as the United boss consider signing a new right-back. Ten Hag failed to hand the Englishman a 90-minute game until the 17th game of the Premier League, at which point he began to showcase his quality.
Diogo Dalot had established himself as the first-choice right-back but Wan-Bissaka became a regular as the season went on. The former Palace star played 90 minutes in six of United’s final ten minutes as they secured a spot in the top four and also started in the FA Cup final.
Ten Hag has offered an insight into how the United star can wrestle back his starting role: “He has improved a lot, as many players have improved during the season. That’s one of the jobs for a manager and the coaching staff, to get that done [improve players] and we are really happy with it, that players are developing.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka in action for Man United in Dublin
“Always the team spirit is the base and if players understand that, if they can set their egos aside, then you will see that the team develops and progresses. And then within the team’s progress, individuals make a lot of progress and Aaron is definitely one of them.”
United haven’t made a single addition to their defensive resources this summer with Lisandro Martinez and Tyrell Malacia both being signed last summer. Ten Hag has moved on several players, some of whom were released, but has maintained he needs a deep squad.
He told Sky Sports: “We need all positions doubled because the numbers of games we have to cover. We need the competition and you always have to deal with suspensions and injuries as well as player’s form. I need good players but every player needs the perspective to play.”
