Manchester United's $54M Midfielder To Defy Rangnick's Request, Plans To Leave In January: Report

Donny van de Beek reportedly wants to leave Manchester United despite Ralf Rangnick's assurances that he'll get opportunities in the second half of the season.

Manchester United's interim boss Rangnick wishes to retain Van de Beek at least until the end of the 2021-22 campaign. The Red Devils will allow Van de Beek's representatives to submit options in January but any loan offer would have to cover his full weekly wage of $162,358 until the end of the season and include a loan fee, unnamed sources have told ESPN. However, International Business Times could not verify the information independently.

The 24-year-old has made only 12 appearances for Manchester United, across all competitions, this season. Despite being in the squad for 19 Premier League fixtures, the Dutchman has played in just seven league games, while he is yet to start in the tournament this term. He was once again left as an unused substitute during the Old Trafford side's 1-0 loss to Wolves on Monday.

In a pre-match conference ahead of Man Utd's league clash with Wolves, Rangnick was asked what Van de Beek has to do to get a chance in his new formation and the German boss replied, "Just work hard."

"So far, as I have got to know him, he has got a top mentality. He works hard in every training session. He is a team player through and through. There will be games where he will get his chance to play, I am sure," Rangnick was quoted by Man Utd's website.

Due to his massive lack of game time at Manchester United, Van de Beek has been dropped from the Netherlands squad by coach Louis van Gaal.

The central midfielder is determined to win back his place ahead of the Qatar World Cup at the end of the year but Van Gaal has made it clear he will only consider players who are regulars for their clubs.

"I also had a long conversation with him last week about that and again, of course, it is difficult for him right now because he also wants to play for the Dutch national team, he wants to qualify for himself and play in the World Cup in Qatar and in order to do that he needs to get game time here. But I still believe we should keep him, and he should stay here, definitely until the end of this season and try to get as much game time as he possibly can," added Rangnick.

Van de Beek, who joined the Red Devils from Ajax at $54 million in the summer of 2020, has been linked with quite a few clubs over the past months, including Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich, according to Spanish publication Fichajes. The German club is looking at Van de Beek as a replacement for Corentin Tolisso, who is expected to leave Bavaria in January as his contract is due to expire in the summer.

Tolisso's departure could make way for Van de Beek to join the Bundesliga and the move could potentially revive his career at one of the best clubs in Europe.