With one brief statement, a potential exit route for one of the many players facing uncertain futures at Manchester United appears to have been closed off.
The long-serving £50 million man appears to fall somewhere in the middle of that Venn diagram. Certainly not ‘unsellable’ but not quite ‘up for sale’ either.
Manchester United are ‘not actively looking’ to cash in on Aaron Wan-Bissaka, to quote Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth.
But with just one year left on his contract and with Diogo Dalot seemingly Erik ten Hag’s first-choice right-back these days, nor will they stand in his way should an offer arrive that is deemed acceptable.
As Sheth explains, on his official X account, United are yet to open talks regarding a contract extension either.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka could leave Manchester United
Given his qualities – a magnificent one-v-one defender with the potential to shut down even the game’s finest widemen – there should be no shortage of suitors for Wan-Bissaka.
Sheth reports that West Ham United are certainly keen. A Hammers side who tried to sign both Scott McTominay and Harry Maguire in 2023 – as confirmed by ex-United and West Ham boss David Moyes – need reinforcements at right-back after Ben Johnson left for Ipswich Town.
Galatasaray, the reigning Turkish Super Lig champions, have been linked too.
But what of Inter Milan? Why have things gone quiet, one month on from Tuttomercatoweb’s revelation that Inter had held talks over a potential £10 million deal and were willing to offer Wan-Bissaka an initial three-year deal?
Rporter Paulo Bargiggia later explained to Super News that the Scudetto holders were only likely to step up their initial interest in the former Crystal Palace defender if fellow right-back Denzel Dumfries left first.
Dumfries now looks likely to stay at the San Siro.
And Inter president Beppe Marotta appeared to slam the shutters down on Wan-Bissaka’s fingers when telling Sky Italia that Inter may be closed for business already, with Piotr Zielinski and Mehdi Taremi set to be joined in Milan by the Man United-linked Genoa goalkeeper Josep Martinez.
“We have signed the contracts for Zielinski and Taremi. Then, the team is already competitive in itself,” Marotta says. “We have to close the goalkeeper (deal), who will be Martinez. The team is competitive and ready to go.”
When pressed further on whether Inter could make any more signings after Martinez, Morotta said; ‘I would say no’.”
Interestingly, in an update provided by TMW on Wednesday, Inter may look to revisit the Wan-Bissaka deal in 2025. By which time, he could well be a free-agent.
Inter Milan rule out move for defender
In comparison to the likes of Jadon Sancho and Mason Greenwood, selling Wan-Bissaka is more of a possibility than a priority for Man United.
Especially given that a new right-back is not particularly high on the Red Devils’ wishlist, with a centre-forward, at least one midfielder, two centre-halves and a left-back necessary.
Alongside West Ham, the door to Galatasaray is still open for Wan-Bissaka, however. Coach Okan Buruk told Sporx recently that a right-back was an ‘urgent’ need for the Instanbul giants.
“Our president has authorised (us to sign) the best,” Buruk said. “We will buy the best players we can. We will (sign) very important players. Very important transfers.
“A right-back will be signed very urgently. We are thinking of players who will support the forward line. We have identified very important players, (and) we will make transfers that will make the fans very happy, so everyone can be comfortable.”
