As the January transfer window creeps closer and closer towards its conclusion, the future of Donny van de Beek is yet to be determined.
The Dutchman is at the centre of a transfer tug of war and is of interest to both Crystal Palace and Everton as the window prepares to slam shut at 11pm on Monday evening.
Van de Beek has been starved of opportunities at Manchester United this season and is understood to be upset by that, so much so that he wants to leave the club, understandably, to secure some much-needed first-team football, following a tally of just 50 appearances in all competitions since joining the Reds in September 2020 from Ajax.
Although United are understood to have reservations about letting Van de Beek leave because of their lack of depth in midfield, especially if Jesse Lingard seals an exit as well, Van de Beek deserves to be released, even if just temporarily, from his United nightmare.
He did not sign up for the treatment he has received and United, if anything, would be damaging his career even further if they failed to grant him a temporary loan exit, whether it to be Palace, Everton or elsewhere.
On the face of it, a loan move to Palace could be just what he is need of. Despite his inexperience of managing in the Premier League, Patrick Vieira has transformed the London club's fortunes this season for the better, with their style of play and individual showings of several players having earned rave reviews.
A Rolls-Royce of a midfielder during his playing days, Vieira has transformed Palace's style of play this season, with them now renowned for short, neat passes and progressive build-up play, opposed to sitting deep, soaking up pressure and going long and direct to hit opponents on the counter-attack as they did under former manager Roy Hodgson.
Palace's fresh approach for being a total footballing side could suit Van de Beek down to the ground. He grew up applying his trade in that manner at Ajax and a temporary switch to the capital could allow him to resurrect his career and offer him the chance rediscover himself and showcase his talents to the Premier League, even though a number of United supporters remain hopeful that he will get the chance to do that at Old Trafford.
The best of Van de Beek's football at Ajax came when he operated as an attacking-midfielder, performing in the No.10 role, something he has not had the chance to do at United because of Bruno Fernandes' presence. Unless Vieira makes a tactical switch to accommodate him, the Netherlands international will not get that luxury at Palace either, with the Frenchman setting his side up in a 4-3-3 system, with one holding midfielder and the other two, either side, performing slightly higher, but not quite in an advanced-midfield position.
One of those two players, currently, is Chelsea loanee Conor Gallagher, who has wowed the Selhurst Park faithful on no shortage of occasions this season, as highlighted by his tally of seven goals and three assists in 19 Premier League games. The England international has been the star of the show at Palace this term and his ceiling is getting higher and higher courtesy of the faith and trust installed in him by Vieira.
Whilst, of course, there are big differences between Gallagher and Van de Beek, not least their respective ages, Vieira has proven that he has the ability to get a tune out of a loanee and develop them. Again, Van de Beek is different to Gallagher, especially in the sense that he is vastly more experienced, but he is in need of a pick-me-up. His career has stalled and it needs reigniting.
Combining with Gallagher, plus the likes of Wilfried Zaha and Odsonne Edouard, Van de Beek would be well suited to Palace's style of play, if his Ajax days are anything to go by. Although he would not play as high up the pitch as he did at the Dutch giants, there would certainly be opportunities for him to break the lines and get forward, as highlighted by Gallagher's attacking output.
If all went to plan, the prospect of Van de Beek joining Palace would be a great move for all parties, not least the Dutchman himself.
United need to do the right thing, allow him to leave on loan and give Palace and Viera the opportunity to piece his career back together again.
Sign up to our United newsletter so you never miss an update from Old Trafford this season.
