Fabrizio Romano confirms Man Utd will be saddled with unwanted player, with Tottenham defender deal taking precedence

A player Erik ten Hag has no use for will be back at Man Utd this summer, with a proposed escape route now closed in favour of pursuing a Tottenham deal instead, per reports.

One position Ten Hag moved quickly to address upon taking charge was left-back. Tyrell Malacia arrived from Feyenoord for an initial £13m and has provided stiff competition for Luke Shaw.

Beyond that pair, academy graduate Brandon Williams is also champing at the bit for more game-time.

As such, allowing forgotten left-back Alex Telles to join Sevilla on a season-long loan was a risk-free move United made back in August.

The 30-year-old’s loan deal does not contain an option to buy. However, the Manchester Evening News reported United have made it know Telles is part of a trio signed for £153m who’ve been put up for sale.

Football Espana subsequently claimed Sevilla can complete a permanent move from scratch if they’re prepared to stump up just €10m (approx. £8.8m). However, according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, the Spanish side have no desire to sign Telles outright.

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What will Man Utd do with Alex Telles?

As such, Telles will return to Old Trafford this summer and faces the prospect of being third or even fourth choice in his position.

Per Romano, United will quickly explore how to rid Telles from their books, though the journalist confirmed the Sevilla avenue is a dead end.

“From what I understand, there is no buy option in the contract,” said Romano via his YouTube channel. “So he will be back to Man Utd at the end of the season.

“At the moment, Sevilla are not planning to make a bid to sign Telles on a permanent transfer.

“The expectation is for Man Utd to look for a new option for him because Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia are two very good players who are appreciated by Ten Hag.

“Telles’ future could be in a different club, but back to Man Utd first and then with a potential new solution.”

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Tottenham defender deal takes centre stage

A prior report out of Spain (via Football Espana), revealed why Sevilla have turned their back on the idea of signing Telles outright.

Instead, the Spanish side are targeting Tottenham’s Sergio Reguilon despite enduring a nightmare loan stint with Atletico Madrid.

A series of injuries have limited the 26-year-old to just five appearances for Diego Simeone’s side this term. Perhaps with that in mind, Sevilla are sizing up Reguilon whose transfer value may be at an all-time low.

Reguilon is a known commodity in Seville having shone while on loan from Real Madrid in the 2019-20 campaign. His superb form that year was what earned him a £27.5m move to north London.

Reguilon’s loan deal at Atletico doesn’t contain an option to buy. Given how the spell has turned out, it’s unlikely Atletico would trigger one anyway.

As such, Reguilon will return to Spurs this summer, though like Telles, he’ll be out in the cold.

Romano recently confirmed Destiny Udogie will be integrated into Spurs’ first-team next season. Aside from the explosive Italy Under-21 international, Tottenham also have Ryan Sessegnon, Ben Davies and Ivan Perisic for the left side of their defence.

A Reguilon move to Sevilla – be it another loan or a permanent deal – looks highly achievable and to the benefit of all involved.