Manchester United forward Tahith Chong’s loan move to Bundesliga club Werder Bremen could well be on the rocks with the club unwilling to meet the £50,000 week wage and the loan feel to sign the player. United have shown a willingness to let the player leave the club on loan as if they end up signing Jadon Sancho, or an alternative, it will mean that Chong would not be guarantee much first team action next season in which United will be seeking to get themselves amongst the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City to win the Premier League title.

It was suggested that Werder Bremen would like to sign the player on a two-year loan spell with Chong’s current contract ending in the summer of 2022 although United have the option of adding a third year to his contract that was signed earlier this year. The 20-year-old has not played much first team football for United this season, making a total of 12 first team appearances, with no goals scored but getting two assists in the UEFA Europa League. Chong also made 10 appearances at U23 level, scoring seven goals six assists.

Germany news outlet Bild has reported that both Werder Bremen and United differ greatly in the financials for the deal with a £50,000 per week wage and a loan fee to be paid, which is something that the Bundesliga club would find difficult to match. This could see the prospective deal fall through. This could benefit United as if Chong does well in Germany, he might be able to find his feet in United’s first team when he returns to the club, or if United want to sell him, they might be able to get a much better fee than they would not utilising him.

Last week, the German clubs sporting director Frank Baumann spoke to the media giving the suggestion that the club was speaking to United regarding Chong and that several parties were involved in discussions with a lot to be clarified ahead of any agreement which was to be reached. This gave nothing away. Perhaps United will need to think about what it going to happen here and if the German club walked away, perhaps Chong could vie for a move away from the club, possible permanently. Baumann was reported by The Sun as saying:

“That we are in exchange is the case. We are in good talks. Several parties are involved. Some things still have to be clarified and we have to agree. As of now, this is not the case.”

During his time at United, Chong has risen to the challenge at academy level, performing well at U18 level and rising to the U23s, performing well there too. It is the level between U23 football and first team football that the player is not getting the upper hand and therefore a loan spell away from the pressures at United could do the player a lot of good. If a possible deal with Werder Bremen ends up not happening, United would then need to find another club interested in the player. Chong will need to be loaned to a club where he will play regular football, otherwise there would not be a point in loaning him out this summer.

Written by John Walker

In March 2020, Tahith Chong ended weeks of speculation by signing a new contract at Manchester United which would keep him at the club until the summer of 2022, although there is the option for a third year to be added. However, since signing that contract, the Dutch winger made one appearance, playing 19 minutes in the 5-0 demolition of Linzer ASK in the UEFA Europa League round of 16 first leg, also getting an assist in that match. At the time he signed his new contract, Chong, speaking to the official Manchester United website, said:

“When I joined Manchester United as a youngster, it was a dream come true. It is an honour every time I pull on the shirt and represent this club. I am working hard every day to improve and I know this is the perfect environment to develop my game.

“The opportunity to learn from the manager, his coaching staff and the world-class players here is fantastic. I am delighted to sign this new contract and really grateful for the chance to prove myself here for many years to come.”

It might not be seen as great for him to only feature once since signing his new contract but in that respect, the coronavirus pandemic stepped in after that LASK match with football suspended for at least three months and in that time, the Premier League 2 and all youth football was subsequently cancelled with players no longer training. Chong did train with United’s first team and was pictured on occasion after it was safe to return to training ahead of the Premier League restart.

However, the player was never picked for the squad of the matches United needed to play to end the domestic season. United did finish third in the Premier League, therefore playing UEFA Champions League football next season. Chong could well feature in the Europa League, especially against LASK, after being named in the squad but with United looking to win the competition, he might not be a starter if United go all the way. It would seem that a loan spell is on the table.

Chong’s agent has been in Germany, as reported by SportWitness who cite WESER-KURIER as the source which claims Bundesliga side Werder Bremen are interested in signing the player for the 2020/21 season, which would be good for the player. If United do end up signing Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund, it would push the player further down the pecking order at the club, meaning he would probably not feature much or at all. Werder Bremen chief Frank Baumann is reported to have said”

“He is very fast, a real flank player and his profile fits [our requirement]. We can add two or three more players [who fit the profile].

“Borrowing players from top clubs like this can make sense to us. Because of our situation, he’s a player who could be interesting.”

However, it has been stated that the German club are not the only club interested in signing Chong but no other club is identified. It is just stated as a problem for the Bremen club, which may or may not be the case. During the 2019/20 season, Chong made a total of 11 appearances at first team level for United, scoring no goals but assisting twice – both in the Europa League. At youth level, he featured 10 more times, scoring seven goals and six assists.

Written by John Walker