The Daily Express is reporting that Manchester United have turned down loans from four Championship clubs for defender Paddy McNair. Louis van Gaal insists that he isn’t for sale, even on loan.
Fulham, Blackburn Rovers, Burnley and Wolverhampton Wanderers have all been thwarted in their attempts to land the 20-year-old on a temporary deal. Although he has only started three Premier League games this season, Dutchman van Gaal is adamant that he remains at Old Trafford to act as defensive cover.
With Euro 2016 taking place once the season is over, McNair will want to be playing regular first-team football in order to guarantee his spot in the Northern Ireland side for the finals in France. Nevertheless, van Gaal isn’t prepared to let him depart.
It is clear that all four of the mentioned Championship clubs want to strengthen their squads in this window, and McNair certainly would’ve done just that. Slavisa Jokanovic is hoping to stamp his own authority on the Fulham squad and desperately wants to improve their dreadful defensive record. Paul Lambert is looking to utilise his contacts to bolster his squad at Ewood Park as well. Burnley recently made a bid for Brentford’s James Tarkowski, so Sean Dyche is clearly chasing a new centre back. Also, Wolves look like losing their chase to sign Mike Williamson from Newcastle United, so appear to be focusing their attentions elsewhere.
