Manchester United make loan deals for Chong, Garner and Mengi

Manchester United have loaned Teden Mengi to Derby County.

Derby appointed Wayne Rooney as permanent manager in January, and with the club in 18th place they need reinforcements in order to make sure they do not suffer relegation to League One, and a late run of form could conceivably hit their stride and claim a place for this season’s playoffs.

Derby have won their last three games that has suggested that they might have turned a corner and may make the most of an odd season to race up the title and push for Premier League promotion, despite their extensive financial problems.

Rooney and United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer were teammates at the tail end of Solskjaer’s Old Trafford playing career, and he may have been in touch to secure the signing of central defender Mengi.

The 18-year-old Mancunian played his first and only game for United last season against Lask in the Europa League before the coronavirus forced the suspension of football across the globe, and will hope to get more first team experience now he has dropped down a division. Derby are set to see defender George Evans join Millwall, giving them a need to add defensive reinforcements.

United have also acted to change the club of another loan player, Tahith Chong. The young winger signed a new deal at Old Trafford and then moved on loan to German side Werder Bremen. The 21-year-old Dutch winger has had his time in the Bundesliga cut short and will now move to Club Brugge until the end of the season in the pursuit of getting more time on the pitch.

Another youngster, James Garner, has also changed loan clubs, leaving Watford in order to turn out for fellow Championship side Nottingham Forest.

United have already sent Jesse Lingard on loan to West Ham as he chases a place in the Euro 2020 squad for England, and Odion Ighalo has been released after his loan spell came to an end this January. Amad Diallo has arrived after agreeing a £37 million move in the previous transfer window.