With Luke Shaw’s contract winding down, Michael Carrick eyes Lewis Hall and Antonee Robinson to solve the injury-plagued defensive crisis ahead of a crucial Champions League return.
Michael Carrick will have a larger say in Man Utd transfers
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Manchester United's left-back position has been a persistent problem in recent seasons, largely due to injuries.
Luke Shaw has been the club's first-choice option since joining from Southampton in 2014 under Louis van Gaal, but recurring fitness issues have regularly disrupted his time at Old Trafford. His most serious setback came in 2015 when he suffered a double leg fracture in a Champions League match, breaking both his tibia and fibula. The injury kept him out for 64 games and cast doubt over his long-term future.
United attempted to strengthen the position by signing Tyrell Malacia under Erik ten Hag, but the Dutch defender also struggled with injuries, limiting his impact and preventing him from establishing himself as a dependable alternative.
This season has been different for Shaw. With Manchester United playing just once a week, the England international has remained fit and started every available Premier League match, becoming only the fifth outfield player in the club's history to achieve that feat.
However, with Shaw entering the final year of his contract, United are expected to evaluate their left-back options ahead of the summer transfer window.
Given his history of injury issues, it comes as no surprise that United are looking at left-back options ahead of a Champions League campaign, and Patrick Chinazaekpere Dorgu is expected to play further forward next season.
As reported by The Guardian, Manchester United are monitoring Newcastle United's Lewis Hall and Fulham's Antonee Robinson to strengthen Michael Carrick's options at left-back.
Lewis Hall has established himself as one of the most exciting left-back prospects, becoming a key part of Eddie Howe's squad at just 21 years old. Previous reports indicate that Hall prefers a move to Manchester United this summer and is keen to work under Carrick.
While Hall prefers a move to Old Trafford, United may be forced to look elsewhere for left-back depth, with Newcastle expected to demand a huge fee for the 21-year-old, after already losing Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali this summer, with captain Bruno Guimarães also reportedly pushing for a move to Arsenal.
Antonee Robinson is coming off the back of a fairly poor season by his standards and could look for a new challenge after the departure of Marco Silva. United see the 28-year-old as a reliable option after performing well in the two seasons prior to the 2025/26 campaign.
Noussair Mazraoui played just under 1000 minutes last season, playing mostly as a right-back under Carrick, but was limited to mostly substitute appearances.
At the World Cup, however, the 28-year-old excelled at left-back for Morocco, having to play out of position with Achraf Hakimi firmly established as the national team's starting right-back.
With Hakimi able to contribute significantly going forward, Mazraoui featured as a defensive left-back, forming a back three with the two centre-backs, and excelled against the likes of Brazil and the Netherlands.
With Carrick likely to utilise a 3-2-5 in possession like many modern-day managers, Mazraoui offers significant tactical versatility, allowing Carrick to alternate between making his left or right-back more attacking and exploiting any opposition weakness.