Young can’t agree new United deal
MANCHESTER United winger Ashley Young has not reached agreement with the club over a new deal. The England star was one of louis van gaal’s success stories last season, playing in three positions down the left side as the new United manager got to grips with life at Old Trafford.
now, though, with less than a year left on his current contract, the 30-year-old has admitted he does not know if or when a new deal will be signed.
And with United targeting Barcelona attacker Pedro, Young may soon find there is even greater competition for a starting place. luis Enrique has said the spain international can leave the nou Camp provided his £22million release clause is met.
Young said: ‘I think a lot of people thought I had it (the contract) done but I haven’t. It’s in the club’s hands now so I will have to see how it goes.
‘I’m at one of the biggest clubs in the world so I want to stay here as long as possible. That’s exactly what I want to do. There have been preliminary talks and I hope I can sort things out.
‘so I am just looking to go out on the pitch and leave my agent to take care of that.’
United went into this summer with a clutch of players edging towards the end of their contracts. Phil Jones and Chris smalling have signed new deals, for example, while Jonny Evans will be allowed to leave.
Young, though, is the most prominent name whose longterm future is unresolved. Asked after United’s 3-1 win over san Jose Earthquakes yesterday if things would be resolved soon, he said: ‘You will have to ask the club. I want to go out and play and I am on tour so I am trying to enjoy myself.’
With Angel di Maria not due to join up with United until saturday and the subject of claims in France last night that he is poised to join Paris saint-germain in a £45m deal, Young has shown signs of a promising left-sided partnership with luke shaw.
new signing Memphis depay has been used largely as a no 10, giving Young the opportunity on this tour to make the left-wing position his own.
‘The partnership with luke has been worked on and it’s nice to have a left back who bombs on and finds me,’ he said. ‘He got in behind two or three times in this game and was unlucky. I was delighted with howw things went last season but this is a new season and I have to take the confidence that I had and build on it.
‘This is a brilliant squad. We’ve competition for placess and I’ve always saidaid that’s great. We have world- class players in every position and that has to inspire you. You should watch training. ‘Players take it seriously, just like in a match. They are disappointed when they lose training matches and that’s the way it should be. It’s the United winning way. Everyone has it.’ goals from Juan Mata, depay and Andreas Pereira gave United their win against san Jose Earthquakes but Van gaal wasn’t happy with the second-half display and even had criticism for new signing Bastian schweinsteiger, who played the second 45 minutes.
Van gaal said: ‘ He was also bad. Players can play bad, especially when they only have six days’ training and have to play 45 minutes. Everyone can think it is easy to step in, but it’s not.
‘He played very well in his first game (against Club America) and now he played badly, but that is a process when you only have one week of training.’
Van gaal also sought to row back from his suggestion this week that he was trying to sign a ‘surprise’ striker. ‘I have not said that,’ he said. ‘no, I mean something else.’
United are hopeful of signing Argentina goalkeeper sergio Romero, who is a free agent after leaving sampdoria.