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Football

09th Aug 2018

Manchester United loan out one of their most underrated defenders

They might just have won the transfer window

Patrick McCarry

The 20-year-old played eight Premier League games in his breakthrough season.

Amid all the talk of Manchester United needing a quality defender or two, the club has shipped out three young players that Louis van Gaal had high, high hopes for.

Axel Tuanzebe is on loan at Aston Villa, Cameron Borthwick-Jackson is on a similar deal with Scunthorpe while the latest defender out the door is Timothy Fosu Mensah.

According to reports, loan moves for Timothy Fosu-Mensah and Luciano Vietto are expected to be announced by Fulham on the final day of the summer transfer window. Fosu-Mensah joins from Manchester United after a relatively successful loan spell at Crystal Palace last season and an impressive pre-season tour.

The Dutch international has 16 senior appearances with United while he impressed at Selhurst Palace last season. The player himself, who can cover either full back slot and centre back, was apparently keen on getting first team experience away from Old Trafford after discussions with United boss Jose Mourinho.

When Louis van Gaal, who gave him his senior debut, was set to leave United in 2016, the versatile defender said:

“Van Gaal is a man with real personality. I still think it’s great that I was able to make my debut under him. Do I hope he stays? Of course.”

Van Gaal moved on soon after and Fosu Mensah has struggled for a look-in.

Vietto joins from Atlético Madrid, having struggled to break into the team ahead of Angel Correa and Kevin Gameiro.

The deadline closed at 5pm but expect to see a few transfers announced after the deadline as the photoshoots and social media content is lined up.

If Fulham get both these deals over the line, it would wrap up a hugely successful window for them, although it’s difficult to judge before the season has started.

Fulham have arguably had the best transfer window out of all 20 Premier League clubs. The Londoners have been hard at work during this summer’s transfer window, recruiting some very talented players who should bed into the squad seamlessly.

Aleksandar Mitrović made his loan from Newcastle permament, André Schürlle joined the Cottagers on a two year loan from Borussia Dortmund, and Jean Michael Seri signed from OGC Nice despite interest from several big clubs around Europe.

They’ve also reunited England’s U21 defensive partnership from last summer with the acquisitions of Alfie Mawson and Calum Chambers, and now look set to complete two more loan deals to wrap up a fantastic window.

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