Sir Jim Ratcliffe with Man Utd officials Omar Berrada and Jason Wilcox
(Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Manchester United officials are carefully assessing their upcoming move on the market, and it could depend on Luke Shaw and his fitness.
After parting ways with Casemiro and losing Manuel Ugarte to a long-term injury, INEOS were forced to prioritise their midfield reboot above all other transfer plans.
With Kobbie Mainoo being the only available natural central midfielder, the club needed to populate the department with three new arrivals.
Andrey Santos completed a £48 million move from Chelsea, while Youri Tielemans followed suit, with MUFC triggering his £35 million release clause. However, their third midfielder plans have recently taken an unexpected turn.
Man Utd must choose between midfielder & left-back with Luke Shaw under scrutiny
While United were initially expected to pursue what some sources described as a ‘marquee’ third midfielder, the latest updates reveal the club could instead shore up the department by dropping Mason Mount to a deeper role.
The 27-year-old has put on a few splendid displays in pre-season while combining with Santos in the double pivot. Hence, this could turn from a makeshift early summer solution into a permanent one, allowing Man Utd to allocate a bigger budget for their left-back pursuit.
According to the popular and often credible X account, Djamel, Man Utd must choose whether to recruit a third midfielder or instead shift their focus to buying a new full-back who can ease the pressure off Shaw.
“From what I understand, Man Utd are torn between a 3rd midfielder or a LB, given concerns over Luke Shaw’s fitness record,” writes the source.
“Even after a clean last season, his injury history still makes them hesitant.”
What should be Man Utd’s priority?
Despite starting in each of United’s 38 Premier League games last season, Shaw cannot remain the only recognised left-back in Michael Carrick’s first team, especially with the club returning to the Champions League.
The 31-year-old certainly had woeful experiences with injuries during his 12 years at Carrington, but pairing him with another left-back should be a priority regardless of his physical condition, as the club needs to have at least two options for every playing role.
Based on the source above, MUFC could be leaning towards addressing this issue, hence why INEOS are actively pursuing Newcastle left-back Lewis Hall. However, this decision mustn’t impact their midfield revamp, as reinforcing one department shouldn’t come at the expense of another, especially a vital one like the middle of the park.
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Injury Record Since 2023/24 Days Off Matches Missed
Luke Shaw 554 103
Mason Mount 404 70
Ironically, Man Utd appear to be vigilant of Shaw’s injury record, but are willing to entrust Mount, who is also notorious for his recurring spells on the sidelines, with a key role in the squad.
Therefore, the hierarchy should ideally address both departments, as they cannot afford to get caught short on options in the middle of a packed campaign.