Apart from replacing backup goalkeeper Altay Bayındır with Karl Darlow on a free transfer, Manchester United’s sole transfer business this summer has come in midfield. They’ve spent north of €170m on Carlos Baleba, Andrey Santos, and Youri Tielemans in order to replace Casemiro, who has joined Inter Miami on a free transfer, and Manuel Ugarte, who injured his knee ligament in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. They’ve also freed up their wage bill with the departures of Jadon Sancho, Tyrell Malacia and Rasmus
Højlund, in addition to selling youth products Radek Vítek and Tyler Fredricson. And with less than a week left in the summer transfer window, they might not be done yet.
Manchester United look poised to add a left back to their ranks before Tuesday’s deadline and reinforce a position that has been weakened (albeit not dramatically) by Malacia’s exit. Apart from Luke Shaw, United don’t have a single natural left back, and whilst the likes of Diogo Dalot, Noussair Mazraoui, Patrick Dorgu, and Lisandro Martínez have been used there in the past, it’s clear that they’re far more comfortable elsewhere in the backline. And despite being used as Shaw’s backup in preseason, Harry Amass was not included in United’s matchday squad in their opening-day defeat to Hull City.
Relying on a 31-year-old Shaw to stay fit for the entirety of the campaign is a risky bet, especially considering that he’s missed 103 matches with injury since the start of the 2023/24 season. It’s undeniable that United need to sign a left back – the only question is, who? United’s main priority in the window would have undoubtedly been Lewis Hall; Newcastle will demand a king’s ransom after already losing two of their biggest assets in Bruno Guimarães and Anthony Gordon.
RB Leipzig, meanwhile, will be reticent to lose yet another key figure after selling Yan Diomande for a club-record €125 million, and will be looking to keep hold of David Raum. The German is entering the final year of his contract, but he could cost a pretty penny at £30m, less than half of what Newcastle are reportedly demanding for Hall.
There are other options like Jorge Salinas, 19, who has spurred Racing Santander to promotion but seems to be more of a natural center back rather than a fullback. Whilst Salinas has a £13.6 million release clause in his contract, it remains to be seen whether he can make the jump from the Segunda to the Premier League.
Another name that has been mentioned is Myles Lewis-Skelly, with Arsenal holding out for a fee in the region of £50 million. Lewis-Skelly enjoyed a fine end to the season, helping the Gunners win their first Premier League title in two decades and earning praise from the likes of Steve Fletcher. But after playing himself back into Mikel Arteta’s starting XI, it seems unlikely that Arsenal would sanction a move so late in the window.
Last but not least, United could be tempted to sign Alejandro Balde from FC Barcelona. Once considered the present and future of Barcelona’s left back position, Balde has been decimated by injuries and inconsistent form, prompting him to be leapfrogged in Hansi Flick’s hierarchy by João Cancelo, with young talents like Gerard Martin and Xavi Espart waiting in the wings. He wasn’t part of the matchday squad in the season opener, which saw Barcelona thrash Elche 5-0, with Flick stating, “I need everyone to be 100 per cent committed to us.”
It remains to be seen who they end up going for, but one thing’s clear: United need to give Michael Carrick a new left back in order for them to maximize their potential this season.
