Erik ten Hag has sent Alex Telles clear transfer message in Manchester United pre-season

Alex Telles has not had the summer he would have hoped for under Erik ten Hag.

The left-back played 26 times last season as he stepped in for the injury-affected Luke Shaw, but it looks as though he will be lucky to see that kind of game time again at Old Trafford. The arrival of Tyrell Malacia as Ten Hag’s first Manchester United signing was an ominous sign for the Brazilian.

His worst fears were probably exceeded in pre-season. Telles failed to start any of United’s four pre-season games, although he did play a total of 137 minutes.

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The problem is, all of them were as a left-sided centre-back. His inexperience in that position was evident in the 4-0 win over Liverpool in Bangkok, making a number of mistakes only for Eric Bailly to bail him out.

Nevertheless, Ten Hag persisted in playing him in the role for the next three fixtures. Telles may have got Ten Hag’s transfer message by now. The Manchester Evening News understands that he is among a plethora of players who are deemed surplus to requirements.

The 29-year-old is unlikely to edge ahead of Malacia nor Shaw in the pecking order, not to mention the exciting prospect of Under-23 player of the year Alvaro Fernandez, who has secured a loan spell at Preston. With time not on his side and a World Cup place in his sights, now might be the perfect time to seek an exit.

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