Manchester United intends to loan out Ten Hag's favored player to make room for a new midfielder! However, the player himself insists on staying with the team.

British media reports suggest that young midfielder Toby Collier may be loaned out this summer. Manchester United currently has five central midfielders, and head coach Ruben Amorim's 3-4-3 formation only requires two starting positions, so the squad is already sufficient. Only by letting one more player go can there be room for new signings.

Collier, who joined Manchester United from Brighton in 2022, was highly regarded by Ten Hag during his coaching period and made his debut in the Community Shield against Manchester City. However, in the subsequent season, he only appeared 13 times, with just three starts. This was partly due to muscle injuries that troubled his legs, causing him to miss 28 matches.

Collier stated, "I think it was a very good season for me personally, both in terms of experience and playing time. The only thing that frustrates me is the injuries I've gone through, but I also feel I've learned a lot from it. Obviously, playing in the Premier League for Manchester United comes with the highest physical demands. You have to understand your body and do the right things both on and off the pitch. If you know what I mean, I’m saying you can’t be 100% committed every day; you can push yourself, but you need to know when your body needs rest to ensure you can return to peak performance the next day."

The match in January where Manchester United defeated Fulham 1-0 away might be Collier's peak moment, as he cleared a goal-bound header from Jonathan Anderson, securing the victory.

"That was obviously a wonderful moment," Collier said. "I think it mainly comes down to focusing on the job and not tiring yourself out or getting distracted. I believe you just need to stay calm and focus on the work. The coach assigns tasks to us on the pitch, and if we can do that and help each other, then everyone is in a better position."

Collier added, "It's important no matter where you are, but in reality, perhaps only Real Madrid and Barcelona receive the same level of attention as Manchester United. The scrutiny and interest surrounding us is unprecedented, just like what Carrick said when he came from Spurs; he came from a club he thought was big, but nothing could prepare him for what he would face at Manchester United."

Compared to the other four midfielders under Amorim—Casemiro, Ugarte, Kobbie Menno, and Bruno Fernandes—Collier has the least experience. Sources say that due to missing out on European competitions for the second time in 35 years, the number of matches has sharply decreased, and Collier "must be loaned out" for his further development. Despite Collier's determination to fight for his position, the club still plans to proceed with the loan.

One of the main reasons Manchester United hopes to facilitate Collier's departure is that it could clear the way for midfield reinforcements. Rumors suggest that Manchester United is interested in Valencia's Spanish international Javier Gracia, while Leicester City's Ndidi, who was relegated from the Premier League, is another option, with both transfer fees being relatively low.

Collier himself stated, "I must emphasize first that I want to stay here and play as many matches for Manchester United as possible. I will sit down with the coach and management to discuss the best solution. For me, whether it’s staying or being loaned out, it’s about determining the best way for my development. My ultimate goal is to play as many matches as possible for Manchester United and to start every week. So yes, I will talk to them."

Before choosing to join Manchester United in 2022, Collier also received offers from Brentford and Chelsea, but he opted for the Red Devils. His contract is set to last until 2027, with an option for a one-year extension. Ten Hag has shown him the most favor; after winning the FA Cup in 2024, he personally embraced Collier, who was merely a spectator, and insisted on attending his contract renewal ceremony.

However, Collier's development has not met the expectations of fans, as he has often been deployed as a makeshift full-back, becoming a "jack of all trades." This situation seems unchanged under Amorim; in the first summer friendly, Collier was assigned to play as a number 10, marking his first appearance in the new coach's 3-4-3 formation. After some time in the match, he was shifted to the right wing-back position. In the second match, he returned to central midfield but played less than 30 minutes as a substitute for Menno.

"I think he's trying new things," Collier said. "He obviously has his own ideas. I moved quite well on the pitch; during the match, I switched positions with Amad (Diallo). It was the coach's decision to do so, and I will do whatever he wants me to do. The coach knows what he’s doing; he has his reasons. Clearly, last season, as I mentioned earlier, I had several injuries, so he might think it's best not to overuse me. The coach has his own starting point."

Regarding his future, Collier reiterated, "Clearly, at this moment, I feel like I want to stay and participate in as many matches as possible. Honestly, I haven't really thought that far ahead. I will see how things develop in the next few weeks, and then we can discuss it. I will sit down with them to find out what the best solution is. But as you just mentioned, time in football is clearly limited. You need to achieve results and help the team progress. We are currently working towards that direction."

He also insisted that staying could allow him to learn from experienced teammates like Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes. "I think their main strengths are their calmness, which comes with experience," Collier explained. "When I communicate with them, it’s mainly about staying calm while leveraging my strengths. When you see those who have entered the first team, their style of play is exactly the same as when they were in the youth team. They don't suddenly change their style; the key is to utilize the strengths that brought them success."