Manchester United reinforced their midfield over the summer but failed to sign a new left-back. The Red Devils were looking for a long-term replacement for Casemiro, who left as a free agent at the end of last season.
INEOS ultimately signed Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans and Carlos Baleba for the job, while also adding Karl Darlow to Michael Carrick’s squad to strengthen the goalkeeping department. A new striker was also on the agenda, as was a left-back to cover for and eventually replace Luke Shaw.
Newcastle United full-back Lewis Hall was tipped as the priority target for United over the summer, but a move failed to see the light of day. Barcelona’s Alejandro Balde and RB Leipzig left-back David Raum were also considered, but none of those transfers materialised.
Acclaimed journalist David Ornstein has now outlined why the Red Devils were unable to match some of their Premier League rivals in the transfer market this summer.
Reason for United’s summer struggles revealed
Speaking on TNT Sports, Ornstein says United struggled to sign players because they did not have unlimited financial resources and had to operate within budgetary constraints. When asked if he expected the Red Devils to sign more players, the reputed journalist said: “I did because I felt they had to.”
“They’ve got Champions League football. They need more depth in more positions at United. And I think they know they need to as well. That’s not rocket science. But they haven’t got an unlimited flow of cash. They’ve got to live within relative means.”
“They’re aiming for a more sustainable model under Sir Jim Ratcliffe. Therefore, last season, it was all about that front line, which I think you’d agree they invested in pretty well. This season, it was the midfield [they needed to focus on] and they’ve come out of it in good shape.”
United wanted to sign Elliot Anderson and Mateus Fernandes this summer, but backed out of the deals after learning of the players’ exorbitant price tags. The Englishman moved to Manchester City, while the Portuguese left West Ham United to join Tottenham Hotspur.
Too soon to judge United’s transfer window
Ornstein went on to reiterate that United were keen to sign a new left-back this summer, and tried until the very end. He continued: “They did want to recruit a left-back if possible. That’s why they looked at Lewis Hall, Lewis-Skelly and some options on deadline day, maybe even a loan possibility for Ait-Nouri.”
However, the acclaimed journalist pointed out that Carrick is happy with the business. Ornstein insisted that it is too early to judge United’s transfer window and assessments should be made once the season is further along. He added: “They’ll probably have to look into other windows for other departments.”
“But Michael Carrick said he was pleased. So, let’s be judging them once we see them play a bit more.”
A recent report relayed by The Peoples Person suggests that United are preparing to return for Lewis Hall in 2027.
Lewis Hall Stats: 2025/26 Season
| Competition | Appearances | Starts | Goals | Assists | Yellow Cards | Second Yellow Cards | Red Cards | Minutes Played |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premier League | 30 | 24 | 1 | 1 | 5 | - | - | 2,180' |
| UEFA Champions League | 10 | 6 | - | 1 | - | - | - | 648' |
| FA Cup | 3 | 2 | - | - | - | - | - | 231' |
| EFL Cup | 3 | 3 | - | - | - | - | - | 196' |
| Premier League 2 | 1 | 1 | - | - | 1 | - | - | 90' |
| Total | 47 | 36 | 1 | 2 | 6 | - | - | 3,345' |
Source: Transfermarkt.
Final Thoughts
United’s failure to sign a new left-back is likely to frustrate supporters, as there remain concerns about Shaw’s ability to deal with a fixture-congested campaign. However, Carrick recently hinted that Patrick Dorgu, who was mostly used in attack in recent months, could be a solution for the issue.
Featured image by Dan Mullan/Getty Images
