Collyer's United future to be decided once £85m midfield rebuild is complete

Manchester United will address Toby Collyer’s future once the club completes its midfield overhaul, with a third signing still to come after the arrivals of Andrey Santos and the near-finalised deal for Youri Tielemans — a combined outlay of around £85m.

Collyer reported for the first day of pre-season at Carrington and will feature in United’s summer friendlies under Michael Carrick, giving him the opportunity to stake a claim before a decision is made on his immediate future. A loan move is understood to be the most likely outcome, though a permanent departure remains on the table depending on where Collyer sits in the midfield pecking order once the squad takes shape.

The 21-year-old endured a frustrating second half of last season during his loan spell at Hull City. He was named man of the match on his first start — against eventual Championship title winners Coventry — but a training-ground incident in which a goalkeeper fell on his ankle cut his stint short and kept him out of Hull’s promotion run-in, which culminated in a play-off final victory at Wembley.

Sources close to Collyer believe he is capable of thriving with a sustained run of games. He recently visited a specialist in Spain ahead of what is shaping up to be a pivotal season in his development, and coaches who have worked with him have consistently backed him to establish himself at Premier League level. He is noted for his high-intensity running output, covering around 13 kilometres per game.

Collyer’s primary ambition is to represent United, but he is willing to leave on a temporary or permanent basis to secure regular first-team football. His contract at Old Trafford runs until the summer of 2027, with the option of a further year.