Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has encouraged Donny van de Beek to stay and prove himself.

Ten Hag believes it would be illogical for Donny van de Beek to leave on loan in the January transfer window.

“I don't think the loan makes sense," Ten Hag said. "It's either he fights and proves himself in this environment or he goes, but for me, there is still a way for him.

"But it's not going to be easy for him because the competition there is really strong."

Although Van de Beek is contracted to United until 2025, there is an increasing belief he is not suited to the tempo of the Premier League and Ten Hag understood that viewpoint.

"I see the opinion but when I watch back the performance in Sociedad and also Villa, he is there in the positions I expect a 10 has to do," Ten Hag added. "And nowadays, it is difficult for a 10 to really show themselves.

"We have the romantic idea of the No.10 as a playmaker giving the final passes, that they have to play in the middle of the park. But it is difficult there because nowadays all the good teams close the middle of the park, so it is really difficult to get a lot of ball touches.

"So that is also not the player who Donny van de Beek is but what he is doing well is his positioning and his movement together with the strikers, especially with the No.9, that combination, he is really good in positioning and anticipation in and out of possession, he did that to my satisfaction in the last games.

"But I have seen he is not on the scoring list, he is not on the assist list and he can do better. He is still not there on his limits, I have seen him better in the past, definitely. But I think positioning wise he is acting quite well.

"But he has to make that step with pace and intensity."