Manchester United remain in talks to sign defender Jonny Evans on a permanent basis despite the collapse of Harry Maguire's proposed move to West Ham.
Evans, 35, joined on a short-term deal to cover United's pre-season fixtures in July, but that contract has now expired.
Erik ten Hag has revealed talks are continuing with the United academy product, who watched Monday's 1-0 win over Wolves from the director's box at Old Trafford.
“In this moment, he is not [under contract] but we are talking,” Ten Hag said. “We will see. We are in talks and when we have news we will bring it.”
United's pursuit of the Northern Ireland international, who left Old Trafford for West Brom in 2015 and became a free agent this summer when his contract with relegated Leicester expired, has continued even though Maguire now appears set to stay at the club.
United accepted a £30 million offer from West Ham for their former captain last week, but that move stalled with Maguire wanting to stay and fight for his place.
Ten Hag offered the 30-year-old some encouragement when asked what he needed to do to get back into the side.
“I am happy he is here, we need a good squad,” the Dutchman said.
“We have four good centre halves and including Luke Shaw we have five, and we need it because we are going to play 50-60 games this season. All the players are internationals so we have a lot of load to cover.
“I am happy Harry Maguire is here. He is going to have to fight for his position as does everyone in the squad.
Man United 1 Wolves 0: Player ratings
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MANCHESTER UNITED RATINGS: Andre Onana - 7. A clean sheet and a win on United debut. The Cameroonian made a couple of quick and accurate passes in the first half, then a couple of comfortable saves in the second. Looked to have conceded a penalty late on. Somehow, it wasn’t given. Getty -
Aaron Wan-Bissaka - 8. United’s best player on a night when so many were off form. The full back played a beautiful ball across goal towards Varane in to set up the opening goal. EPA -
Raphael Varane - 7. Pressed high by the Wolves forwards, then got his heel to a Sarabia shot. Outpaced by Cunha, yet got his head onto a Wan-Bissaka ball for United’s first goal of the season. Getty -
Lisandro Martinez - 5. A yellow card after 17 as United struggled to find a way around the Wolves press, then he dived in and missed tackling the excellent Cunha. Came off at half time. Reuters -
Luke Shaw - 7. Difficult for him against Neto. Booked for a poor challenge on Sarabia just before half time. Best moment was a block against Silva after 89. Improved as the game went on. Getty -
Bruno Fernandes - 6. His compatriot Nunes skipped past him twice in the first half. Tapped a ball into the area as United improved at the start of the second, but his passing was off beam. Involved in build up to the goal. Getty -
Casemiro - 5. Sluggish against the stronger compatriot Cunha. Casemiro’s a great player, but a few forward passes aside, he wasn't at his best. Getty -
Mason Mount - 5. So advanced in the first half that Wolves’ midfield bypassed him and pressured United’s defence. Difficult debut. Getty -
Antony - 5. Went past Ait-Nouri but final ball let him down time and again. Won ball back to set up Rashford on 46. Lofted a ball over Sa after half time, then angled a shot wide on 60. Too many passes saw a 70th minute move break down. Getty -
Marcus Rashford - 5. Played as a central striker. Few first half touches as he played high and kept his position. A shot on 46 wasn’t on target – United didn’t have a single shot on target until the goal and only had two all night to Wolves’ six. Ran into the Wolves defence on a 79th minute break when United had four against three. Reuters -
Alejandro Garnacho - 5. Took time to settle as he handled a cross field Varane pass and then lost possession or clipped the ball too far. Skewed a shot well wide on 41 and sent another shot over well and wide on 58. Getty -
SUBS: Victor Lindelof (Martinez, HT) - 6. While he avoided a booking like the man he replaced, he looked equally susceptible to Wolves’ counter attacks. PA -
Christian Eriksen (Mount, 67') - 6. Hit a dangerous ball into the box two minutes after coming on. Getty -
Jadon Sancho (Garnacho, 67') - 7. Went left. Kept the ball well, fast feet and moved around both sides of the pitch. Made a difference when United weren’t winning. Getty -
Facundo Pellistri (Antony, 76') - 6. Used his pace to get back as Wolves continued to be a threat. Scott McTominay (Rashford, 87') - N/A. Reuters -
WOLVES RATINGS: Jose Sa - 5. Looked unconvincing at times, especially when dealing with Shaw’s cross and rushing about before being beaten to the ball by Antony, but made a decent save to deny Rashford. EPA -
Nelson Semedo - 7. Did a superb defensive job dealing with Garnacho in the first half, notably stopping the winger’s run after a failed corner but was beaten to the header by Varane for the goal. Made some threatening bursts forward. AFP -
Max Kilman - 7. Got away with losing the ball when he tried to step out but Wolves’ new captain stepped up after that moment, notably doing well to stop Antony and Rashford in one-on-one situations. Provided a threat at the other end. EPA -
Craig Dawson - 7. Was authoritative in his defensive work and recovered brilliantly to head Antony’s attempt over the crossbar. Was a nuisance in the opposition box at times. Getty -
Rayan Ait-Nouri - 6. Struggled when Antony got running at him and was booked for time wasting 35 minutes in. Made a good header to stop a ball behind to Wan-Bissaka but allowed the right-back to run behind him for the goal. Getty -
Joao Gomes - 7. Was far too casual on the ball at times in the first half, notably passing to Fernandes near the edge of his own box, but that same composure was key to some brilliant play in the second period. He also put in some good defensive work to help his team. Getty -
Mario Lemina - 7. Did a brilliant job of breaking up United’s play, with one example being his tackle after Kilman was dispossessed but completely left Wan-Bissaka in the build-up to the goal. Was booked for a cynical foul on Garnacho in the 27th minute. Getty -
Matheus Nunes - 6. Did well to get between the ball and Garnacho after Sa’s unconvincing stop but was poor on the ball at times in the first half, playing a weak pass when there was a chance to release Cunha and putting his team in trouble at the end of the first half. Made a brilliant run forward for Cunha’s chance. Reuters -
Pablo Sarabia - 5. Came to life in moments, such as when he saw a shot deflected agonisingly wide and played the balls for Cunha’s two big opportunities, but he was generally quiet. AP -
Matheus Cunha - 7. Made a host of superb runs forward but was left wanting in front of goal, notably hitting the outside of the post from a golden opportunity and sending a header horribly wide. Getty -
Pedro Neto - 6. There was plenty of tenacity. Raced back to make a brilliant recovery tackle after his pass narrowly evaded Sarabia. Sent the shot from his best chance straight at Onana and was booked for dissent in the 69th minute. Reuters -
SUBS: Hee-Chan Hwang (Sarabia, 63’) - 6. Looked bright after coming on but sent an ambitious effort horribly off-target and another attempt dribbling harmlessly wide. Saw a strike deflected into the side netting. Getty -
Fabio Silva (Cunha, 77’) – N/A. Showed good intent but saw two instinctive shots saved by Onana and another blocked by Shaw. Reuters -
Hugo Bueno (Ait Nouri, 77’) – N/A, Slotted in well defensively, seeing off Pellistri when a ball was played behind, and made some promising forays forward. Sasa Kalajdzic (Gomes, 88’) – N/A. Getty
“He knows what I expect from him, what I expect from a centre-half. He can do it, he has the abilities to do it so now he has to show it. It is about character, to be convinced to play that role, he has all the abilities to do it.”
There was one concern in defence on Monday night with Lisandro Martinez forced off at half-time, replaced by Victor Lindelof, but the Argentinian has trained this week and Ten Hag expects him to be available for Saturday's trip to Tottenham.
United have spent big this summer to sign England midfielder Mason Mount, Denmark striker Rasmus Hojlund and Cameroon goalkeeper Andre Onana.
Ten Hag said he was happy with how his squad now looks, but did not rule out further moves in the final weeks of the transfer window.
“Our squad is covered, all the positions are covered, but of course we are Manchester United, we are always looking for improvement.” he said. “With this squad I am convinced we can go for our targets.”
This week United issued a club statement regarding the internal investigation into Mason Greenwood, who has been suspended by United since January 30, 2022, over allegations relating to a young woman after images and videos were posted online.
Greenwood was facing charges including attempted rape and assault until the Crown Prosecution Service announced six months ago that the case had been discontinued.
Following reports that United are preparing to bring the academy graduate back into the first-team set-up, the club statement said no decision had yet been made.
The issue has divided a number of fans, with some protests against Greenwood's potential return seen at Old Trafford on Monday night.
Ten Hag said the issue was not affecting him or his team with the season now under way.
“We focus on the way of playing, we focus on the team performance. It is about the players who are available so we focus on Tottenham,” he said. “Every start to the season is difficult.
“We know the performance [against Wolves] was not what we hoped but we won. We showed the character and the personality.”
