Manchester United were at their devastating best going forward against Ipswich Town.
Bruno Fernandes showed he is gunning for another PFA Players’ Player of the Year award with a statement performance. The United captain bagged a hat-trick and registered a beautiful assist in his side’s thumping win.
This is the first time United have scored five goals in a Premier League game since August 2021 against Leeds United.
However, the Red Devils also conceded twice against the newly promoted side, and if it were not for Senne Lammens’ heroics, the Tractor Boys could have got more.
Interestingly, both of Ipswich’s goals came from the left side of the backline, yet again underlining that the area is going to be the biggest headache, if not addressed, for Michael Carrick.
Manchester United still in the market for a left-back
According to the Daily Mail, the word from inside Old Trafford is that Manchester United are open to signing a left-back on deadline day if the right opportunity comes along, but there is no guarantee it will happen.
Lewis Hall has reportedly been United’s prime target for the role all summer, but it would take a bid of more than £75 million to make Newcastle United even consider letting the Englishman depart.
Needless to say, INEOS are not going to make such an expensive attempt in the final hours of the window.
It is understood United have assessed other options besides Hall, including Brighton’s Ferdi Kadioglu, Ian Maatsen of Aston Villa and Racing Santander’s Jorge Salinas.
We all know the kind of price tag Brighton would slap on Kadioglu’s head should United make an approach this late in the window. Meanwhile, it has been widely reported that Villa want to extend Maatsen’s contract, leaving Salinas as the only realistic target.
Why Jorge Salinas makes perfect sense for Manchester United on deadline day
Still only 19 years old, Jorge Salinas is already considered an undisputed starter at Racing Santander.
The Spanish youth international, who was born in Santander, came through the ranks at his boyhood club and enjoyed his breakthrough last term, playing an instrumental role in his side’s promotion back to Spain’s top flight.
The 5’11” star is comfortable playing both as a centre-back and a left-back. He had seven assists to his name in Spain’s second tier.
Furthermore, Salinas has not looked out of place in La Liga, playing the full 90 minutes in all three of Racing’s matches.
Salinas is comfortable in possession, composed during build-up, and can hold his ground in physical battles.
Given how INEOS tend to operate, perhaps the most appealing thing about Salinas is the €16 million (£13.7m) release clause in his contract.
As such, rather than relying on the ageing Luke Shaw and risking derailing Carrick’s project, the United hierarchy should get in touch with Salinas’ agent, Jorge Mendes, to strike a swift deal for a player with immense potential, akin to last year’s deadline day arrival, Senne Lammens, who eventually proved to be a transformative addition at the Theatre of Dreams.
Featured image Juan Manuel Serrano Arce via Getty Images
