Man Utd's future plans for Tahith Chong under review with fresh loan approach made

Birmingham City want Tahith Chong back on loan next season.

The Second City club will ask Manchester United if they will again send the exciting 22-year-old away from Old Trafford to St Andrew’s to build up his first-team experience. Brum’s hierarchy, consisting of boss Lee Bowyer and technical director Craig Gardner, are keen to oversee another year of his development.

Chong has proved a big hit at St Andrew’s and was a bright spark during an otherwise drab opening half to the season. He has adapted well to the demands of the Championship but his campaign was ruined when he had to undergo surgery on a groin problem that ended up sidelining him for over four months.

However, the playmaker is back in the fold and will be part of Bowyer’s side facing West Brom in this Sunday's derby. United retain hopes he will make the breakthrough at Old Trafford. Technical director Darren Fletcher confirmed the club had taken up the year’s option on his contract 48 hours ago.

He also wanted to see how the former Feyenoord youngster shaped up during United’s pre-season tour of Thailand and Australia. However, if Birmingham decide to press ahead with an offer to take Chong on loan they may have to wait. The Red Devils are in action Down Under on July 19 - and the next Championship campaign kicks off 11 days later.

That means Brum could be sweating on the decision until just before the next season gets underway due to the fixture re-arrangement ahead of November’s World Cup. Chong, who has capped by the Netherlands at every youth level up to the U21s, is in the third loan move of his career having had previous spells at Werder Bremen and Club Brugge. He has made 18 appearances for Birmingham, scoring his first goal for them against