Dan snubs loan move to fight for place at Reds
DANIEL James is committed to remaining at United beyond the end of the January transfer window, despite suggestions he may move.
The United winger has struggled for game time this season under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, after his form dipped at the start of 2020. He hasn’t started a game since the 0-0 draw with Chelsea on October 24.
That has prompted rumours suggesting Leeds United may again come in for James, but M.E.N. Sport understands the 23-year-old wants to continue fighting for his place.
Marcelo Bielsa’s side almost signed James from Swansea in January 2019 before the Welsh club pulled the plug on the deal at the 11th hour – a saga well documented by Amazon documentary ‘Take Us Home’ about Leeds in the Championship. Leeds reignited interest in James in the summer just gone, though sources close to the player told the M.E.N. the move ‘was never on’ and Leeds signed wingers Raphinha and Ian Poveda instead.
United host Leeds at Old Trafford today, the first meeting of the two clubs since the Whites’ promotion to the Premier League – and since United snapped up James for a £15m fee, plus add-ons, from Swansea in June 2019. Everton have also been touted for a move in recent weeks, though James is enjoying life under Solskjaer and believes he can win back a spot in the United coach’s first team plans.
He scored on his last United appearance in the 4-1 Champions League victory over Istanbul Basaksehir last month and was named on the bench for the recent trip to Sheffield United.