Manchester United have completed another deal following the UK transfer deadline as Ruben Amorim continues to fine-tune his squad.
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Malacia is set to return to the Netherlands nearly three years after his £15 million move to Old Trafford from Feyenoord.
The 25-year-old left-back, who was Erik ten Hag’s first signing as United manager, made 39 appearances across all competitions in the 2022/23 season.
Unfortunately, Malacia missed the entire following season due to a pre-season knee injury that required multiple surgeries.
He returned to action after an 18-month absence in November and has played seven more times under Ruben Amorim.
However, the Dutchman has struggled to regain his form after such an extended period on the sidelines, particularly as a left-wing-back in Amorim’s demanding system.
The British transfer window closed on Monday night, a day earlier than the Dutch window.
Taking advantage of this timing, PSV have reportedly secured a deal to bring Malacia in on loan until the season’s end.
According to Fabrizio Romano, the Dutch Eredivisie club has an option to buy Malacia for around £8.3 million in the summer.
The report also mentions that United will include a 30 percent sell-on clause if the move becomes permanent, ensuring the club benefits from any future transfer.
Amorim substituted Malacia at half-time for the fourth time in his five starts this season against FCSB last Thursday.
After the match, the United manager cast doubt on Malacia’s future by admitting the player did not fit well as a wing-back.
“We will see [about Malacia’s future]. What I know is that it’s really hard on Malacia. It is a long time without playing, and then it’s hard to play a lot of games,” Amorim explained.
“A player like him is a full-back. He played with the national team outside and inside, but sometimes, in this system, it’s hard for him because he’s not so offensive.
“He can play as one of the three defenders if we have more possession and more control of the games. It’s a really difficult context for him. But he’s our player, and we are going to help him.”
United have paved the way for Malacia’s departure following their £29 million acquisition of Lecce left-wing-back Patrick Dorgu in January, effectively addressing a critical positional need.
The 20-year-old may be immediately integrated into the squad for Friday’s FA Cup match against Leicester City, as Luke Shaw continues to regain his match fitness.
