Manchester United defender Ashley Young is reportedly being linked with a summer move to MLS side DC United.
According to freelance journalist Peter Harding, Ashley Young is being courted by Major League Soccer outfit DC United. The Washington DC-based club have approached the Manchester United captain about a move in this summer’s transfer window.
Ashley Young has been a part of Manchester United since the summer of 2011, when he completed a move from Aston Villa. Through the years, the veteran Englishman has donned many hats for the Red Devils, having started out as a winger who operated predominantly from the left flank.
But, the last few years have seen Young become a handy option for his manager by fulfilling defensive roles instead. His first such foray saw the 33-year-old start out as a left wing-back under the tutelage of Louis van Gaal. But, it is under the guidance of Jose Mourinho that he successfully completed the transition to being a full-back.
For the first two years of Mourinho’s time at Manchester United, Young was ahead of Luke Shaw in the pecking order for left-backs. And, this past season saw him become a regular at right-back, with Antonio Valencia not quite being at his best. The 2018-19 season also saw Young don the captain’s armband for the majority of the campaign.
Earlier this year, Young was also handed an extension on his deal with Manchester United, with his contract now set to run out next summer. And, it is widely expected that the experienced campaigner will be given the club captaincy as a full-time role for next season.
But, as per Peter Harding, DC United are hoping to pry Young away from Manchester United this summer. The MLS club have already approached the 33-year-old, who they are hoping to reunite with former United captain Wayne Rooney.
However, the credibility of the rumour has been quashed by Manchester Evening News, who branded Harding’s Twitter account as fake. Additionally, where they do add logic to their claims of the rumour being untrustworthy is the fact that DC United already have reached their maximum quota of Designated Players.
Under the so-called Designated Player Rule or the Beckham Rule, MLS franchises are allowed to sign up to three players who can earn outside the club’s salary cap. For DC United, these three are Lucas Rodriguez, who is on-loan at the club till the end of the year, key midfielder Paul Arriola and captain Wayne Rooney.
With no other spots to fill, it looks highly unlikely that DC can harbour hopes of signing Young if he were to earn a salary within their salary cap, seeing as he is reportedly in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s plans for next season.
With Ashley Young set to become the Manchester United captain for the 2019-20 season, it does not look like he will be on his way to DC United in the summer. And, Harding’s claims appear to be rather unfounded, despite reports linking Manchester United with right-backs this summer.
Manchester United defender Ashley Young is reportedly being linked with a summer move to MLS side DC United.
According to freelance journalist Peter Harding, Ashley Young is being courted by Major League Soccer outfit DC United. The Washington DC-based club have approached the Manchester United captain about a move in this summer’s transfer window.
Ashley Young has been a part of Manchester United since the summer of 2011, when he completed a move from Aston Villa. Through the years, the veteran Englishman has donned many hats for the Red Devils, having started out as a winger who operated predominantly from the left flank.
But, the last few years have seen Young become a handy option for his manager by fulfilling defensive roles instead. His first such foray saw the 33-year-old start out as a left wing-back under the tutelage of Louis van Gaal. But, it is under the guidance of Jose Mourinho that he successfully completed the transition to being a full-back.
For the first two years of Mourinho’s time at Manchester United, Young was ahead of Luke Shaw in the pecking order for left-backs. And, this past season saw him become a regular at right-back, with Antonio Valencia not quite being at his best. The 2018-19 season also saw Young don the captain’s armband for the majority of the campaign.
Earlier this year, Young was also handed an extension on his deal with Manchester United, with his contract now set to run out next summer. And, it is widely expected that the experienced campaigner will be given the club captaincy as a full-time role for next season.
But, as per Peter Harding, DC United are hoping to pry Young away from Manchester United this summer. The MLS club have already approached the 33-year-old, who they are hoping to reunite with former United captain Wayne Rooney.
However, the credibility of the rumour has been quashed by Manchester Evening News, who branded Harding’s Twitter account as fake. Additionally, where they do add logic to their claims of the rumour being untrustworthy is the fact that DC United already have reached their maximum quota of Designated Players.
Under the so-called Designated Player Rule or the Beckham Rule, MLS franchises are allowed to sign up to three players who can earn outside the club’s salary cap. For DC United, these three are Lucas Rodriguez, who is on-loan at the club till the end of the year, key midfielder Paul Arriola and captain Wayne Rooney.
With no other spots to fill, it looks highly unlikely that DC can harbour hopes of signing Young if he were to earn a salary within their salary cap, seeing as he is reportedly in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s plans for next season.
With Ashley Young set to become the Manchester United captain for the 2019-20 season, it does not look like he will be on his way to DC United in the summer. And, Harding’s claims appear to be rather unfounded, despite reports linking Manchester United with right-backs this summer.