Manchester United's Dutch defender Timothy Fosu-Mensah plays the ball during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Crystal Palace at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on September 19, 2020. (Photo by Richard Heathcote / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by RICHARD HEATHCOTE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
According to Daily Mail, Timothy Fosu-Mensah has rejected a new contract from Manchester United. The academy graduate, whose contract is set to expire at the end of the season, has refused to extend his stay with the club. It is being said that he has offers from Marseille, Monaco and Hertha Berlin.
United have a bloated squad, with 31 players currently on their books. Manchester United are stacked in the full-back department. Aaron Wan-Bissaka is their trusted right-back, while youngster Brandon Willams can be his deputy.
There is also a good chance that Diogo Dalot is given a chance after his loan spell at AC Milan. Shaw and Telles have shared the duties on the left flank. Fosu-Mensah had not started a league game for United in three years until he lined up against Crystal Palace in July 2020. The two years he spent on loan before that was not the most impressive either.
In the 2017/18 season, the Dutchman played 21 league games in a Palace defence that saw them concede just one goal less than the relegated West Brom and Swansea.
The following year, he appeared 12 times for a Fulham defence that shipped a staggering 81 goals and got relegated. Fosu-Mensah has garnered a fair amount of top-flight experience in his time in England, but playing for a club like Manchester United is a different challenge which he does not look cut out for.
During his time at the club, Fosu-Mensah hasn’t done much to stake a claim for a starting spot. So many full-backs have come in and played ahead of him and even left. His versatility has not been of not much use either.
It is clear that he isn’t exactly cut out for Manchester United’s new and evolving team. The 23-year-old is yet to impress in the chances given to him. While the club somehow thought it was right to offer him a new three-year deal, they might just have dodged a bullet with the player rejecting it and wanting to move on.
Now it remains to be seen whether the club can get something for him in January or lose him for free next season.