Man United have been linked with a new left-back, but could a shock Premier League swoop make more sense?placeholder image
Man United have been linked with a new left-back, but could a shock Premier League swoop make more sense? | Getty Images
Man United have been linked with a new left-back, but could a shock Premier League swoop make more sense?
Manchester United finally looked like they have turned a corner under Michael Carrick.
The ease at which changing formation has made the Red Devils a better football team shouldn’t be a surprise given the issues under Ruben Amorim, but wins over Man City and Arsenal are still impressive.
Both were deserved. The experiment ultimately failed which will have a lasting effect on recruitment over the coming transfer windows. No longer will wing-backs be signed or no.10s, instead, full-backs and wingers will be needed for a more traditional shape and system.
Man United eye new left-back
One player who has benefitted has been Patrick Dorgu. Despite picking up an injury that will see him miss the next few weeks, he has shown that his future lies in a more advanced role. Being able to cover at left-back is only an added bonus and his more attack-minded qualities should be utilised as much as possible.
What his injury means in the short-term, is that United are putting a lot of pressure on Luke Shaw, unless they start putting square pegs in round holes.
There is also one eye on the future already with TEAMtalk suggesting that one of Europe’s hottest prospects could be targeted: “Manchester United have stepped up their search for a new left-back after sending senior scouts to Germany on Wednesday night to watch Eintracht Frankfurt star Nathaniel Brown, we can reveal.
“The 22-year-old, already capped by Germany and widely viewed as one of Europe’s most exciting young full-backs, has been on the radar of Arsenal and Manchester City for months. But we understand Man Utd have now entered the race and are carrying out detailed checks on the defender.”
But is he what United need?
Could shock move solve United’s left-back issue?
United have other areas that require more attention, spending as much money on a defender when they could pick one up for free just doesn’t make sense. It would be hugely controversial, but United need winners, they need leaders, and they need players who are available every week.
After seeing a move to Tottenham break down, Jason Wilcox could send shockwaves online by picking up the phone to Richard Hughes and ask him how much he wants for Andy Robertson to make the sort of transfer that not many have made in the past.
Robertson is exactly the type of player that United needs. There is a core of young players and others who are approaching their peak already at the club, Robertson and Shaw could keep each other on their toes and rotate their minutes to keep at their sharpest.
On their day, few are better in the Premier League. With PSR making recruitment harder and harder, the £40-50m being demanded for Brown would be better spent going towards a winger or central midfielder, two positions where quality, rarely comes cheap.
The hardest thing will be convincing Liverpool to part with one of their club legends to their biggest rivals. But in the era of PSR, if United offer enough then Liverpool might be forced to accept.
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