‘He’s doing really well’ - Latest comments from Man Utd boss suggest Crystal Palace may miss out on £50m star

It’s 2023 and the January transfer window is now open, meaning clubs across the country can once again begin buying and selling players.

For Crystal Palace, who face London rivals Tottenham Hotspur at Selhurst Park on Wednesday in their first Premier League outing of the new year, it could prove to be a busy month behind the scenes. The Eagles had been linked with making a move for a former player, who did look like being available for a move this month, but that might not be the case now after recent developments.

Manchester United full back Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who joined the Red Devils from Palace in 2019 for £50 million, has been heavily linked with a move away from Old Trafford in recent months. A return to Selhurst Park looked like a real possibility while the likes of Wolves and West Ham were also mentioned in the same conversation.

The 25-year old has only made four appearances for United this season but two of those have come in their last two Premier League fixtures, a 3-0 home win over Nottingham Forest and 1-0 win away to Wolves at the end of December. An injury to first choice right back Diogo Dalot has presented the opportunity to Wan-Bissaka and it looks like the former Palace man is taking it.

Speaking after the Wolves win, where Wan-Bissaka was one of the stand out performers for the Red Devils, United head coach Erik ten Hag said: “First you have to be on the pitch, and in the first half of the season he was either injured or ill, so he didn’t have a role in the squad. So, I think the break was good for him. When he returned, he was in the training camp in Spain and could play some games in preparation for the restart, and now he’s playing two games and he’s doing really well, so I’m happy with his performance.

“We need competition in the squad. He has to play games in the team and then he can develop, then he can grow. He has to play games in the team and then you can develop and then you can grow.”

Those comments don’t completely rule out a January exit from Old Trafford for Wan-Bissaka, with a loan move in particular looking possible if United can bring more cover in at right back. However, for the time being, a move anywhere may not be on the cards for the former Palace man.