Anthony Elanga transfer decision shows how far Manchester United have come

United have dropped their asking price for the 21-year-old after a difficult season for the winger.

Manchester United will be back among Europe’s elite next season but the future of the man who scored their last Champions League goal looks bleak.

Anthony Elanga enjoyed something of a personal golden period under Ralf Rangnick, playing 27 times in the 2021-22 season for the Reds, including 16 starts under the interim boss. As the team and others struggled, he thrived. He became a bright spot in a dark period, netting three goals along the way.

One of those was an important equaliser in Spain as United drew 1-1 with Atletico Madrid in the last 16 of the Champions League. A home defeat in the second leg meant it didn’t have the impact it perhaps could have and a little over a year on, Elanga has gone from a starting spot to struggling to even get in the squad.

He has started just once this calendar year, in the Carabao Cup against Charlton in January, and has not feature in 10 of the last 13 Premier League matchday squads. It’s a drop down the pecking order that has prompted United to drop their asking price for the Sweden international to £10million, half the figure it was.

The 21-year-old had loan interest in January but Erik ten Hag made the call to retain him in the squad. But the attacker, who was initially earmarked for a loan exit this summer, is now available on a permanent deal.

The summer arrival of Antony, from Ten Hag’s former club Ajax, and the emergence of Facundo Pellistri into the first team picture have pushed Elanga down the pecking order. He’s had a season to impress in training but his sporadic appearances haven’t delivered on the promise he showed last term. And with United having kicked on under Ten Hag, Elanga has been left behind.

The new-look Reds have improved markedly with the Dutchman at the helm and Elanga, like several other fringe players, is one of the casualties. A summer exit will suit all parties with the player himself admitting earlier this season that he had spoken to Ten Hag about his lack of game time and wants to be playing regularly.

“It is frustrating. You want to play. It is important. But if you don’t play, it’s not up to me but up to the coach,” Elanga said in March. “I have spoken to Erik and it is private between the two of us. I know what he wants me to do and I can just keep training hard. When the opportunity comes, I just have to be ready to take it.

“We have a lot of dialogue, not only about it but also what is happening around. That’s the good thing about the club, we talk a lot and they help me a lot.”

But for all the talk Elanga hasn’t seen much action. He’s unlikely to be involved in the FA Cup final this weekend and while he’s still chalked up 26 appearances for United in all competitions, his impact has been limited.

It’s no slight on the player, rather a reflection of the progress under Ten Hag. His ceiling isn’t as high as United’s and the man of the moment in Madrid will have to move on to replicate such highs.