Manchester United are expected to sign a left-back before Tuesday’s transfer deadline day.
Luke Shaw worry
Two issues are driving this move. Firstly, Luke Shaw, unlike last season, cannot play every game; doing so amid this season’s packed fixture list would surely run him into the ground.
Beyond the risk of overloading Shaw, opposition teams have also identified the United number 23 as a weak link.
Carrick wants his left-back to overlap, with his left winger inverting to play near the box.
However, Shaw is no longer as athletic as he once was, so United are slow to recover his position once he overlaps, and he struggles to track back and match opponents’ pace when he does.
United therefore need an alternative who is as athletic as they come, a tireless runner who can run the show on United’s left wing.
Lewis Hall could have been that man, but he is unlikely to leave Newcastle United this summer. The suggestion is that he is a target the Red Devils have earmarked for next summer, as they hope to repeat the Carlos Baleba transfer trick.
With a whole season to be played before they can land their dream target, the Red Devils are considering alternatives in the meantime.
Villa Park raid contemplated
Several names have been identified, and now Pete O’Rourke of Football Insider claims an Aston Villa star has just been added to the list.
He reports, “Manchester United have made an enquiry for Aston Villa defender Ian Maatsen as they search to bring in a new left-back.”
Maatsen a brilliant Hall alternative
As a Hall alternative, Ian Maatsen would be a great fit; in fact, signing him would put in doubt whether United return for the Newcastle United left-back at all.
The Villa star is an explosive, highly technical modern left-back who excels at surging forward, dribbling past opponents, and inverting into central areas during build-up. He offers exactly what Carrick wants from his left-back.
That said, with the season underway and the Europa League winners ambitious and keen to compete, it is unlikely they would sanction the sale of one of their key players this close to deadline day.
The Peoples Person Reliability Assessment
Overall credibility: 5/10
Why?
✅ United’s search for a left-back is well reported
⚠️ Comes from a not-so-reliable source for Premier League transfer news
⚠️ Just an enquiry, not an offer
TPP View
We believe that with Man United not known to be searching for a left-back, many links like Maatsen’s will crop up, but in the end, it is not known who they will sign.
Featured image by Alex Pantling/Getty Images
