DONNY VAN DE BEEK and Eric Bailly are seeking assurances over their futures after feeling exiled at Manchester United.
Van De Beek, 24, has started just four Premier League games since he arrived in a £35million switch from Ajax in the summer of 2020 and only one as sub this season.
This despite United crying out for some creativity in midfield.
And while the Red Devils leak goals like a sieve, Bailly has been rooted to the bench making just one appearance in the League Cup defeat to West Ham.
The 27-year-old was particularly angry not to start the away game at Leicester with Harry Maguire rushed back from injury after just one training session instead.
United would go on to lose the game 4-2 with Maguire having a stinker.
Captain Maguire’s form has gone with question marks over whether he has fully recovered from his calf injury.
It has left Ivory Coast star Bailly wondering why he was encouraged to sign a new contract last April keeping him at the club until 2024.
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Van de Beek, meanwhile, has understandably lost his place in the Dutch national team.
Injury kept him out the Euros in any case and he spent the summer working hard bulking up for the rigours of Premier League football.
Van de Beek’s frustration overcame him when he was left on the bench during the last gasp win over Villarreal.
He threw his chewing gum down in the dug-out after Nemanja Matic and then Fred were favoured to come on ahead of him as United chased a winner.
While Ole Gunnar Solskjaer can’t play everyone there is some sympathy within the squad for both players.
Not least after United boss kept the same team from the comeback win over Atalanta to the 5-0 drubbing by Liverpool.
Solskjaer now has to get his selection and tactics right for Saturday’s trip to North London for the game against Tottenham with his job now hanging by a thread.
After that it is tough trip away to Atalanta in the Champions League followed by the visit of local rivals and Premier League Champions Manchester City.
If results and performances don’t pick over those three games that could well be it for Solskjaer with fan unrest growing.
The team were booed off at half-time against Liverpool at old Trafford while many left their seats and headed for home long before the end of the game.
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