Manchester United defender Daley Blind says he will stay at Old Trafford this summer to fight for a starting place next season, reports The Sun.
The Dutch international joined United from Ajax in 2014 and has gone on to make 139 appearances in all competitions. Blind has struggled for playing time this season, however, making just five Premier League appearances, which has led to speculation over his future.
Ashley Young, Luke Shaw and Matteo Darmian are ahead of Blind in the left-back pecking order, while Chris Smalling, Phil Jones, Victor Lindelof and Eric Bailly are head of the £75k-per-week outcast at centre-back.
The former FC Groningen defender, who is currently sidelined with an injury, has been an unused substitute 10 times in the league this season and failed to make the matchday squad on eight occasions.
Blind is out of contract next year and could be deemed expendable by manager Jose Mourinho given how few times he’s played this campaign. The 28-year-old, however, has no plans to leave before his contract runs down and still believes his manager and the United hierarchy want him to stay.
“United still have faith in me. I hear that the club’s high-ups are satisfied with me, and they just want me to keep on working,” Blind said to Ajax Showtime magazine.
“There are lots of transfer rumours surrounding United. Five or six players in my position are linked to the club every week and given my contract situation it’s logical people have written about me leaving.
“Jose Mourinho gave me over 30 matches in his first year in charge, which not everyone had expected. He stated his faith in me, and I have done my best to reward him. I have a great relationship with him.
“He always involves me with the first team, even though he picks other players. That can happen at this level – this is Manchester United, and there is lots of competition for places.
“It’s down to me to keep working hard, get as many minutes as possible and show what I can do. This is my fourth season with United, and I’ve averaged over 30 games a year in the first three.
“This is the first time I’ve played less often, but I’ve been out injured for two months.”
United will be faced with a dilemma this summer, whether to cash in on Blind or risk losing him for free at the end of next season.
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