Everton want Anthony Elanga but their hopes may be in the balance after he started once against for Manchester United on Saturday afternoon.
United headed off to Southampton on Saturday and needed a win.
Monday’s 2-1 win over Liverpool just couldn’t be a flash in the pan and after some away day night nightmares in 2022, a win on the South Coast was imperative.
It wasn’t pretty but United did get what they wanted with a 1-0 victory as Bruno Fernandes volleyed home Diogo Dalot’s second-half cross.
Erik ten Hag will hope to build some momentum now but there should still be plenty of ins and outs at Old Trafford in the coming days.
Everton want Anthony Elanga
Ten Hag looks set to snap up Ajax winger Antony, bolstering his options in the final third of the pitch.
What that means for the future of youngster Elanga remains to be seen.
Reports suggest that Everton would like to take Elanga on loan should Antony complete his big-money move to Old Trafford.
Just days earlier, Elanga started against Liverpool and terrorised Trent Alexander-Arnold but was still substituted at half-time.
That may have given Everton hope of a deal for Elanga, but there was a dent on Saturday.
Elanga was once again named in the starting lineup for United and played 80 minutes before being replaced by Casemiro.
It seems that Ten Hag does like what he sees from Elanga and the Swede will continue to get chances in the United side moving forward.
Antony will eat into Elanga’s minutes and is likely to start on the right flank with Jadon Sancho on the left.
Yet with Marcus Rashford needed up front now Anthony Martial is out injured, Elanga is still very much needed at Old Trafford.
Everton’s hopes of a deal appear to be dwindling, and Elanga’s inclusion in Saturday’s starting XI showed that he still has a real part to play under Ten Hag.
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