Malacia has not featured for even a single minute this season and it’s believed he will miss the entirety of his sophomore campaign at United with a long-term knee issue.

The Netherlands international, who United signed last summer from Eredivisie giants Feyenoord, has not lined up for the club since he had surgery on a knee meniscus injury. He initially picked up the setback during the last day of the 2022/23 Premier League term.

The injury also saw Malacia ruled out of the Red Devils’ pre-season tour of the United States.

His long-term absence raised some questions from a section of supporters, who speculated why the player had not been seen in public during the duration of his recovery.

United had provisionally planned for Malacia to return last autumn but they were foiled as his rehabilitation endured problems along the way, meaning he would be sidelined for longer than previously projected.

For Erik ten Hag and his coaching staff, the setback suffered by Malacia became even more significant after Luke Shaw, the club’s primary left-back, also picked up a long-term injury.

For weeks now, the 20-time English champions have been forced to operate without a natural left-sided full-back.

The likes of Victor Lindelof, Sofyan Amrabat and Aaron Wan-Bissaka have been deployed on that part of the pitch with both Shaw and Malacia unavailable for selection.

Earlier today, supporters received some good news regarding Malacia when footage of the Dutchman surfaced on social media, showing him taking part in individual training work at the gym.

In the video, Malacia is seen lifting weights.

EXCL – Tyrell Malacia is working hard & training individually! pic.twitter.com/l1x6LEWPNg

— 𝗧𝗲𝗻 𝗛𝗮𝗴’𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝗱𝘀 (@TenHagBall_) April 24, 2024

Hopefully, all goes well for the 24-year-old and he makes it for United’s pre-season tour ahead of the 2024/25 season.

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However, perhaps no other player has been as absent as Tyrell Malacia which is difficult to do as he is set to miss the whole season.

Worse still, there have been no clear updates and the timeline for his return has kept shifting much to the chagrin of fans as United keep playing with no natural left-backs.

Until now. The Athletic have reported the specifics of Malacia’s injury and the reasons behind the continued delay.

Needless to say, they don’t reflect well on either party- the club or the player himself.

The report states that the first instance of pain in Malacia’s knee happened last year but instead of being cautious, he continued to take part, even playing the full 90 on the final matchday of the league.

This reminds of players like Luke Shaw and Lisandro Martinez being rushed back only for them to be sidelined for much longer.

In Malacia’s case, however, the problem increased to such an extent that he had to be shut down for pre-season, which is where the second issue arose.

Instead of going under the knife with United’s experts, Malacia chose to have surgery with his personal surgeon, a damning indictment on United’s staff.

To add to the farce, Malacia didn’t even contact the club regularly during this period and there were no regular updates on his progress.

Pieces of cartilage remained around his knee and the decision was taken to have a corrective surgery, thankfully, under United’s oversight this time but still conducted by Malacia’s surgeon.

After this second surgery, Malacia finally returned to Carrington to begin a long and arduous rehab process which is where the next, and perhaps the most shocking issue arose.

Stretched by injuries to the first-team players, the report states that Malacia couldn’t be given enough time and attention as he was lower on the list of priorities since Ten Hag needed more immediate injuries to be healed first.

He participated in rehab only four days a week as the other three were taken up by other players or staff who had days off.

Effectively, a club the size of Manchester United functioned like a local GP who had too many patients, a remarkable fact that Sir Jim Ratcliffe will need to take cognisance of.

Fortunately, after the whole farce, it is expected that Malacia’s recovery is finally on track albeit slow. He is expected to return directly in the pre-season but it is impossible to not think what could have been if all parties had been professional throughout the process.

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Having already dropped points against Brentford and Chelsea from winning positions due to their naivety and inconsistent decision-making last week, United found themselves with a great opportunity to make amends against their fierce rivals on Sunday.

With less than 10 minutes of normal time to play, the hosts found themselves leading the game 2-1. However, Ten Hag gave away all the control by taking off Alejandro Garnacho for Sofyan Amrabat.

This conservative move took away all the pace from United’s frontline, and as a result, the threat from the counter attac fizzled out.

Liverpool further pinned United’s backline closer to their net and found the equalising goal through Mohamed Salah, who made no mistake from the spot following Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s ill-timed challenge.

This has been the trend all season long for Ten Hag’s side, who have seldom controlled games from minute one to minute 90. Much to the former Ajax man’s disappointment, he might also lose his job at the end of the season.

The Dutchman, who arrived at Old Trafford in the summer of 2022 with plenty of promise and control over transfers, made Tyrell Malacia his first United signing.

Things have changed since, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his INEOS football team set to control United’s transfer business this summer. Interestingly, a report from Sunday Mirror (via TeamTalk) suggests that one of their early moves may signal the end of Malacia’s time at the club.

It is claimed that United have stepped up their interest in Girona left-back Miguel Gutierrez.

The Spaniard, who honed his skills in Real Madrid’s academy, has emerged as one of the most exciting full-backs in La Liga this season.

United and Arsenal have both frequently scouted the lightning quick Girona star, who has a €35 million release clause in his contract.

It is added that Ratcliffe is determined to secure Gutierrez’s services and is willing to use his financial might to leave other suitors behind in the race.

Against Liverpool, Wan-Bissaka only featured in the game on the left flank because both Luke Shaw and Malacia remain on the sidelines. Ratcliffe supposedly wants to end the left-back problem by bringing Gutierrez to Old Trafford.

His arrival should also open the exit door for Malacia. Whether Ten Hag would be in favour of this development and happy to give away control over transfers to INEOS remains unclear.

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While the need for an upgrade in central defence is well-established, given the uncertainty over the futures of Raphael Varane, Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof, and Jonny Evans, the prospect of a new fullback appears more divided.

At the end of last season, the vast majority of United fans would have suggested a new right-back was more of a priority than a new left back. Luke Shaw had just delivered a resurgent year in Erik ten Hag’s debut season, while Tyrell Malacia – signed from Feyenoord the previous summer – appeared a capable deputy, who had likely pushed his English teammate into his improved form.

Conversely, while both Diogo Dalot and Aaron Wan-Bissaka had impressed at times under Ten Hag, neither had laid a firm claim to the right-back position. Both players appeared to lack the complete skillset required to thrive under the Dutch manager, in the way Shaw does.

Yet, nine months on, the long-term absence of both senior left backs has effectively dismantled United’s season, leading Fabrizio Romano to indicate the club have designated a replacement as a key target this summer. “[A] new left back will be designed,” the transfer guru states.

Manchester United decision, clear ahead of summer transfer window: new left back will be signed.

Internal talks to follow in order to prepare shortlist, as revealed. https://t.co/DlpPwHo72L

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) March 26, 2024

Writing on X (formerly known as Twitter), Romano reveals: “Manchester United decision, clear ahead of summer transfer window: a new left back will be signed. Internal talks to follow in order to prepare shortlist, as revealed.”

Shaw and Malacia have both missed the majority of the year through injury, with the Englishman suffering from repeated muscular issues while the Dutchman has not played a single minute due to a serious knee problem.

In their place, United loaned Sergio Reguilon from Tottenham Hotspur, though the Spaniard then suffered his own injury after relocating to Manchester. The club cut short the loan deal in January, with Reguilon heading back to London to instead join Brentford.

This decision has forced Ten Hag to deploy Lindelof and Sofyan Amrabat at left back in the continued absence of Shaw and Malacia – with predictably uncomfortable performances from both players.

As such, the need for a new left back this summer is evident, given how much of impact the injuries to United’s two senior options has caused on the team’s fortunes this season. And The Peoples Person have laid out the exact route the club should take when trying to upgrade this position here.

However, The Telegraph rejects Romano’s report, instead contending it is a new right back Old Trafford officials will be targeting.

Reports indicate United hold a long-standing interest in Jeremie Frimpong – Bayer Leverkusen’s right wing-back who has lit up the Bundesliga this season for Xabi Alonso’s table-topping side.

If United were, as The Telegraph predicts, to target a right back, this may mean the club are willing to sell Wan-Bissaka and use Dalot as a versatile defensive option, given the Portuguese international is capable of playing on either side.

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The Dutch fullback has not played a single minute this season after also being unavailable for the club’s pre-season tour of America last summer.

Malacia’s last appearance for United came at the end of last season in a 2-1 win over Fulham at Old Trafford; a victory which helped Erik ten Hag’s side clinch Champions League qualification.

And the Dutch manager would likely have been hoping the 24-year-old fullback would be able to play a similarly important role in this season’s run-in following the debilitating injury to Luke Shaw.

Shaw was forced off the pitch just minutes into the second-half against Luton in February. It was later revealed the England international had suffered a serious hamstring problem, ruling him out until the final weeks of the season.

A report by the Daily Mail has now revealed Malacia is “unlikely” to feature at all in this time period either.

A complicated knee injury, involving a damaged cartilage meniscus, is responsible for the former Feyenoord man’s absence this season. It has required two separate surgeries, both involving months of physical rehabilitation.

At one point during this process, Malacia returned home to the Netherlands to continue with his recovery process. He has been a constant presence at Carrington – United’s training ground – in recent months, however, with the Daily Mail describing him as “focused on getting fit for the start of next season.”

On the weekend, an update emerged from Germany, detailing how Malacia was dealing with mental struggles, alongside his physical injuries. The Daily Mail report describes this as “somewhat wide of the mark”.

The English tabloid writes: “While Malacia has had to overcome the psychological challenges typically involved in any long-term rehab, the injury itself and several setbacks in his recovery are the reason he has not played at all this season.”

United officials are described as “comfortable” with the approach the player’s rehabilitation process, privately acknowledging there has simply been unfortunate relapses outside of both parties’ control.

Without the prospect of a healthy left-back for much of the remainder of a crucial period for United, Ten Hag’s hopes for a successful end to the season – in the form of Champions League qualification and a successful FA Cup campaign – have received a significant blow.

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The 24-year-old has not featured for the Reds since May last year, when he helped  Erik ten Hag’s side to a crucial 2-1 win over Fulham at Old Trafford. He did not take part in a single minute of United’s pre-season tour of America, owing to an undisclosed injury problem.

This absence, without a clear explanation, has continued for the entirety of this season, creating a crisis at left-back following Luke Shaw’s own long-term injury at the end of August.

Sergio Reguilon was signed on the final day of the summer transfer window in a hastily-agreed loan deal from Tottenham Hotspur to help plug this gap. Within a month, however, Reguilon suffered his own injury, likely leading Ten Hag to wonder if the left-back position was the subject of a curse.

The club decided to end Reguilon’s loan in January, sending him back to London where he promptly joined Brentford on another loan until the end of the season.

Ten Hag later revealed this decision was driven by the prospect of both Shaw and Malacia being close to a return to first-team action in January, as directed by the club’s medical team. Except this prediction did not hold true.

Shaw did return, playing against Newport County in the fourth round of the FA Cup on January 28. Malacia has still yet to re-join first-team training. This continued absence was then subsequently exacerbated by Shaw re-injuring himself against Luton in February, ruling him out until just before the end of the season with a recurrence of his hamstring injury.

In this time, Ten Hag has been forced to deploy Victor Lindelof and Sofyan Amrabat at left-back, with predictably poor results. As such, reports indicate the club have made the signing of a new left-back a priority this summer, suggesting there is doubts over Shaw and Malacia’s ability to be consistently available next season.

With Shaw, the issue is obvious. The England international, despite being one of the most talented fullbacks in the Premier League, simply cannot stay fit. When he does play, he is usually very good. But the team suffers in his absence too much not to have a more-than-capable deputy at the ready.

Which is why the mysterious nature of Malacia’s long-term absence has been so puzzling. The former Feyenoord man would have been expected to have seized the opportunities Shaw’s injuries would have afforded him with both hands. Instead, he continues to be unavailable, despite Ten Hag revealing in February he was closing in on a return.

However, Christopher Michel (fussball.news) has now offered clarity on the situation, revealing it is not simply a physical injury ruling Malacia out; he is also reported to be struggling mentally.

News #Malacia: #MUFC has problems at left-back. Malacia is struggling not only physically but also mentally. Luke Shawn is also injured, but should remain the number 1. Manchester are therefore looking for a new Backup-left-back for the coming season. https://t.co/9NNLkyZ3D5

— Christopher Michel (@CMoffiziell) March 24, 2024

This unfortunate update explains why the club have been so guarded in their updates on the fullback, as well as the timeline for his return being constantly pushed back. If the defender is experiencing issues with his mental health, there is not the same framework for improving the situation as with a physical injury.

This explains why at various points the club’s medical staff, as well as Ten Hag himself, may have thought Malacia was set to return, only for the situation to change.

As a result of the situation with both Shaw and Malacia, Michel indicates United are “looking for a new back-up left-back for the coming season,” mirroring the summer plans The Peoples Person have laid out for officials at Old Trafford.

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An article a day until any worries about the United squad drift away.

With the upcoming transfer window constituting the first major test of the INEOS revolution at Old Trafford, it is imperative the club’s new leadership structure hit the mark this summer with new signings. And with uncertainty over the long-term future of Erik ten Hag likely to continue until the end of the season, any players INEOS identify will have to possess quality and tactical flexibility in equal measure, to account for a potential managerial change.

So too will budgetary restraints be a factor.

As explained in greater detail here, INEOS are expected to be armed with a considerable war-chest for their first transfer window, but five different areas needing five different solutions means the club will need to be mindful with their money. The Peoples Person anticipate a budget in the region of £250 million, helped by sales and expensive contracts coming to an end.

Now, with these these stipulations in mind, as they were for yesterday’s first priority target in central defence, the second area United must upgrade this summer is one position over – left-back.

Left Back on the Treatment Table

United have been deprived of a healthy left-back for large parts of this season, leading to an almost impossible issue for Ten Hag to overcome.

The Dutchman’s undisputed first-choice, Luke Shaw, has been repeatedly absent with hamstring injury. He was ruled out for three months at the end of August, returning in November, before sustaining a relapse in February. This latest problem is likely to keep Shaw out until just before the end of the season, meaning the 28-year-old will have missed over six months of football this year.

This is not a novel situation for Shaw, however.

The England international has suffered enormously with injury during his time at Old Trafford. Since signing from Southampton in 2014, he has missed 253 games for club and country – an average of 28 games a year. While there has been undoubted misfortune involved in this time, chiefly the horrific double leg break Shaw sustained against PSV Eindhoven in 2015 which almost resulted in him losing his left leg, it’s a persistent problem unlikely to improve as he approaches his thirties.

In Shaw’s absence, Tyrell Malacia would have been expected to seize the opportunity of the starting berth with both hands. Except the back-up fullback has himself been ruled out for the entire season with an unexplained issue.

Malacia has not played for United since May 2023. He did not feature in the club’s pre-season tour of America last summer, nor has he made a single social media post since July. For all intents and purposes, the 24-year-old has vanished off the face of the earth. On February 15, Ten Hag indicated Malacia would soon ready to return to training, yet there has been no update on this five weeks later.

The combination means United’s manager has been devoid of both his senior and deputy left-backs this season.

In the final days of the summer window, a hastily-agreed loan move for Tottenham Hotspur’s Sergio Reguilon was sanctioned, to provide Ten Hag with an experienced fullback. A month after he swapped London for Manchester, the Spaniard was then ruled out with an injury, likely leading the club’s medical staff to wonder whether the left-back position was a cursed one at Old Trafford.

A last-ditch compromise Ten Hag could exercise would be to swap Diogo Dalot from right-back to left-back, as the Portuguese star has played on the opposite flank many times before. But his replacement on the right – Aaron Wan-Bissaka – has himself been ruled out with injury for nearly four months this year, with two separate issues.

If that list of absences was draining to read, imagine how draining it would be to manage day-to-day.

The Effect of No Left-Back

The negative impact of being without a natural left-back, or even an out-of-position right-back, has been stark. This has been further exacerbated by the absence of Lisandro Martinez – the first-choice left-sided centre-back, who has also missed the majority of the season with injury.

So, it's pretty fair to say #MUFC gets targeted down their left a lot more than their right… pic.twitter.com/l9IIRDRvNr

— J O H N (@totalf0otball) March 21, 2024

As a result of this weakness, often opposition teams have specifically targeted the left-hand side of United’s defence far more often than the right, as demonstrated in the picture above. Given Sofyan Amrabat and Victor Lindelof have been deployed there out-of-position at times, it’s easy to see why.

But the left-back position has not only impacted United defensively; it’s also been a detriment to the team’s attacking thrust as well.

Marcus Rashford single-handedly carried United’s attack last season.

30 goals and 11 assists across all competitions constituted the winger’s best return in a red shirt, who was promptly rewarded with a blockbuster new five-year deal in July. Yet, eight months on, there are reports linking the 26-year-old with a move away from Old Trafford, and large swathes of the fanbase would be more than happy to see him go.

As good as he was last season, Rashford has been the opposite this year.

Issues with behaviour have reared their ugly head, accompanied by accusations over the winger’s work-rate, commitment, and loyalty to Ten Hag. His form has improved in recent months, but is still a long way short of justifying his £325,000-a-week contract, and prominent standing, at one of the world’s biggest clubs.

But, though The Peoples Person is loathe to excuse what have been some inexcusable performances, Rashford is the type of winger – almost more an inside-forward – who requires a strong supporting presence from the fullback behind him in order to thrive.

The 26-year-old is lethal when he’s able to cut, or run, inside the opposition’s defence.

This tactic is made exponentially more effective by having a left-back overlap, or sometimes underlap, alongside him. It’s little wonder Rashford’s best year in a United shirt was accompanied by Shaw’s best season injury-wise (the left-back missed only three games in 2022/23).

Without his trusty team mate behind him, or Shaw’s deputy in Malacia, or even an out-of-position Dalot, Rashford’s form has gone to pot. Yet United remain overly dependent on the winger to provide the bulk of their attacking threat, despite the fact his performances do not justify this dependence.

Majority of #MUFC 's chances as well (from open-play) are generated from the left half-space and left side of the box..

– ignore the assist numbers, it may have errors, rest all are accurate – pic.twitter.com/VyEGFBSsxV

— J O H N (@totalf0otball) March 21, 2024

The team’s abject form this season – both defensively and offensively – make some sense when viewed through the lens of how important the left-back position is for United; and the effect having neither of its senior options has produced on the pitch.

It is imperative the club does not allow this situation to happen again next year, regardless of who the manager is. Shaw’s injury-proneness will not improve, despite his obvious talent when fit, and Malacia’s future is a major doubt given his own issues with injury, as well as the fact he simply is not good enough from an attacking perspective to effectively deputise for the England international.

Left-Back over Right-Back

Despite the defensive chaos around him, Dalot has firmly established himself as one of United’s most important players this season, continuing to go from strength to strength under Ten Hag’s watch. The 25-year-old signed a new five-year deal last March, and is a front runner for the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award at the end of the year.

His positional rival, Wan-Bissaka, received an automatic one-year extension in his deal triggered by the club in December, and was excellent out-of-position against Mohammed Salah on Sunday in the pulsating FA Cup win – his first game back from injury. At a minimum, the former Crystal Palace man is a strong back-up option to Dalot moving forward, despite some of his technical limitations.

As such, while last summer many would have been expecting United to target a new right-back to provide an upgrade on one of these players, the pair have combined to ensure it is, in fact, left-back the club must prioritise this summer, despite Shaw being the best fullback at the club if fit.

This is a big if, however, hence the need for a better alternative, as the team’s collective performance nosedives without the 28-year-old.

The Number One Target 

This is the first choice United will have to make this summer where they target a less well-known option, in order to direct funds elsewhere.

While a defender like Theo Hernandez – the flying French fullback at AC Milan – would be an excellent signing, he would likely cost as much as £60 million. United simply do not have the budget to spend this amount, while also securing the four other players they desperately need this summer. Instead, Old Trafford officials should accept a more under-the-radar option, who will still constitute a significant upgrade on Malacia.

Enter Miguel of House Gutierrez.

Gutierrez, 22, has been a foundational piece of the impressive Girona team who are currently defying expectations in third place in La Liga. At various points this season, they have been leading the league through an exciting brand of relentless attacking football, despite the entire squad costing only £29 million to assemble.

The Spanish left-back, signed from Real Madrid in 2022, is at the heart of the positional rotation Michel – Girona’s manager – demands of his team. Gutierrez will often invert into midfield to help create numerical superiority in the middle of the pitch, or he will bomb forward, through a well-timed overlapping or underlapping run, to exploit a gap in the defence.

It requires a potent pairing of technical skill and tactical awareness to perform this demanding role as effectively as the 22-year-old has this year.

1 goal and 4 assists in La Liga do not do justice to Gutierrez’s creativity, ranking in the 91st percentile for npxG + xAG (non-penalty expected Goals + expected Assisted Goals) – essentially a convoluted way of representing how much of attacking threat a player produces, irrespective of penalties.

And which player at Old Trafford would benefit the most from the Spaniard’s contributions should he be signed? Rashford.

And, likewise, which player at Old Trafford can benefit United the most when in form? Rashford.

Another argument for prioritising a strong deputy left-back this summer, aside from providing much-needed cover for Shaw, is it would then enable the English fullback to switch inside to centre-back. There is no other defender at United who can provide the same attributes Martinez does in central defence, but Shaw comes by far the closest.

In the Argentine’s absence last year following his metatarsal injury against Sevilla in the Europe League, Shaw was imperious in central defence. His performances were a large part of the reason United were able to overcome a late wobble and comfortably secure Champions League qualification with a third place finish.

Without Shaw, as United often are because of his injuries, Ten Hag’s team are as dependent on Martinez at left centre-back as they are on Shaw himself at left-back. A player like Gutierrez would provide a single solution to this dual problem, while also offering a strong attacking threat from the bench should both first-choice defenders be fit and in form.

There is one major issue, however.

Real Madrid, the club Gutierrez came through as an academy graduate and left in 2022, retain a buy-back clause on their former player. While the 22-year-old has a €35 million (£30 million) release clause to any other prospective suitors, Los Blancos are able to sign him for just €8 million this summer.

Carlo Ancelotti’s team are likely to pursue a new left-back as well, with injury concerns over Ferland Mendy, and a Jude Bellingham-inspired formation, driving this desire. Bayern Munich’s Alphonso Davies is the Spanish giants’ first-choice target, but Gutierrez is likely to be on the short-list just behind the Canadian.

In fact, Real Madrid may simply choose to exercise this favourable clause, only to then sell Gutierrez themselves. Why allow Girona to sell him for €35 million when you could pay €8 million yourself, and then bank the extra €27 million from someone else?

Either scenario makes a pursuit of Gutierrez difficult from United’s perspective; as does Girona being part of the City Football Group – the same entity who own Manchester City.

As such, Old Trafford officials should be mindful of not engaging in an overly difficult process for a player who may never have a chance of joining them.

The Alternative 

United will not have to look too hard to find a suitable alternative to Gutierrez – they welcomed him to Old Trafford last month.

In February, Fulham comfortably outplayed United on course to a 2-1 win, with this score line actually flattering Ten Hag’s side to a degree. Central to this performance was the Cottager’s left-back – Antonee Robinson.

The 26-year-old American international, nicknamed Jedi, was superb against United, effectively locking down the left-hand side of the pitch. It’s something Fulham fans have grown expectant of this season as Robinson’s defensive statistics are very good. Very, very good.

He ranks in the 98th percentile for interceptions, 85th for tackles, and 84th for clearances and successful aerial duels respectively. Being an excellent interceptor is a particularly desirable trait for United given how well it translates to the press-heavy style Ten Hag has sought to establish this season.

Robinson is also physically proficient, standing 5’11 with an athletic frame, and combining speed and strength in equal measure. The fullback clocked in as one of the Premier League’s fastest defenders last season with a top speed of 35.34km/h. Rashford, widely seen as United’s most electric speedster, reached 35.95km/h by comparison.

But the Fulham defender is also adept with the ball – a prerequisite to be a fullback at a top club, and an area where Malacia is lacking. Robinson displays good ball-carrying skills and an eye for a pass, as demonstrated by his six assists in the league this year.

In recent weeks, Liverpool, Chelsea and Bayern Munich have all been linked with the American international, underscoring how many clubs are beginning to take note of his impressive performances for Fulham.

Reports suggest a price of £35 million (comparable to Gutierrez) would be sufficient to prise the left-back from Craven Cottage, though United would likely have to act quickly and decisively to jump the growing queue for his services.

The Conclusion

Gutierrez is an attacking phenom who would add a great deal to United, particularly in the relationship he could quickly establish with Rashford.

His transfer fee, courtesy of a cheap release clause, his wages, and his reputation as an emerging talent all make him ideally suited to the role of Shaw’s alternative, in the way that someone like AC Milan’s Hernandez would not. And his tactical and technical strengths lend themselves to the type of system Ten Hag, or any new manager, would likely want their left-back to play in.

But the very real threat of Real Madrid looms large this summer.

Consequently, United should make an approach to Girona early in the window to establish the viability of a deal. If they meet resistance, or catch wind of interest from the Spanish capital, Old Trafford officials can then quickly change tac, and instead pursue Fulham’s Robinson. Both players offer different strengths, but the same type of upgrade desperately needed to better balance United’s defence, at similar-ish price tags.

Essentially, the club cannot miss with either option.

Tomorrow The Peoples Person runs the gauntlet over which right-wing option United must target this summer, and explains why INEOS’ top pick would likely prove the first grave mistake of their reign at Old Trafford.

The post The five areas Manchester United must address this summer – Left-Back appeared first on Man United News And Transfer News | The Peoples Person.

Manchester United legend, Rio Ferdinand, has commented on how much he does not enjoy watching Victor Lindelof at left back.

The Red Devils have had incredibly bad luck this year in the defensive position as Tyrell Malacia has not kicked a ball in anger all season after it was reported he had picked up an injury before the team’s pre-season trip to America in July.

Furthermore, Luke Shaw has only played 15 games this season and has suffered two serious injuries already in this campaign.

The Peoples Person has suggested that the Red Devils pursue a top notch left back this summer to relegate the English fullback to that of backup, as his injury problems seem never ending.

England manager Gareth Southgate has even suggested that the player is “touch and go” to make the England squad for the Euros this summer.

What this means is that United have had to come up a few sticking plaster solutions that have seen Diogo Dalot, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Victor Lindelof and Sofyan Amrabat all cover at left back since Sergio Reguilon’s loan was terminated in January.

The Swedish captain has been entrusted more recently to fill the void in the team but the results have been questionable at best.

The former Benfica man has played in all of United’s last five Premier League matches and as a right footer, never looks comfortable on the left.

He also cannot match Luke Shaw’s overlapping or crossing, rendering the left side of United’s attack very one-dimensional.

Nonetheless, Lindelof has recently spoken about how he is comfortable playing in a range of positions stating, “and if I play in another position, if it’s not centre-half, then I just try to do the job and play the best way I can. Obviously, it’s different from being a centre-half, a number six or a full-back. You have to think differently. But I think I can do a good job there as well”.

One former United defender doesn’t see it this way, however.

Speaking on his YouTube podcast, VIBE with FIVE, Ferdinand complained “it’s killing me (seeing Lindelof forced to play at left-back)”.

“But you never want to be doing that, playing people out of position, never playing the same back four”.

The return of Aaron Wan-Bissaka for the huge cup tie against Liverpool today will hopefully see natural fullback, Diogo Dalot, shift over to the left hand side. No Manchester United fan will want to see the Lindelof left back experiment be tested against Mo Salah.

The post Rio Ferdinand claims that watching Victor Lindelof is “killing” him appeared first on Man United News And Transfer News | The Peoples Person.

The left-back is understood to be a position that United have urgently earmarked for strengthening ahead of the summer transfer window.

At the moment, Erik ten Hag has no fit and available senior left-back. Both his options in that area of the pitch, Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia, are sidelined with injuries.

There is a strong chance that both players will not play for the remainder of the season.

Shaw has missed large parts of the campaign with different physical setbacks while Malacia has not even tasted a minute of action.

United have already started being linked with left-back options including Borussia Mönchengladbach’s Luca Netz.

In addition to Ait-Nouri, the Red Devils have also been mentioned to be an interested party in his Wolves teammate, Wesley Okoduwa.

A recent report covered by The Peoples Person divulged that United “like” Ait-Nouri and would be keen on luring him to Old Trafford.

Jurgen Klopp has apparently recommended the Algerian to Liverpool as cover for the declining Andy Robertson.

Outlet La Gazette Du Fennec have indeed confirmed United’s admiration for the Wolves full-back and further stated that they’re one of the many Premier League outfits closely tracking him.

The newspaper adds that the situation could “accelerate very quickly” and since United are “dreaming” of having Zinedine Zidane take over the managerial reigns, there could be some additional motivation from the French legend to get a deal for Ait-Nouri over the line.

Alongside United and Liverpool, Man City and Chelsea also want the 22-year-old.

This could work in Wolves’ advantage as it enhances the chances of a bidding war between the four Premier League giants being sparked.

Liverpool are mentioned as the “most serious contact” in the pursuit of Ait-Nouri.

The player has one goal and two assists to his name in 24 league appearances this term. He can not only play in the left-back position but can also double down in a more advanced role down the left side, from where he can take part in his side’s attacking plays.

The post Man United set to face competition from Man City, Chelsea and Liverpool for Rayan Ait-Nouri appeared first on Man United News And Transfer News | The Peoples Person.

Manchester United have been plagued by injury all season, but no position has suffered more than that of left back.

After an impressive first season under Erik ten Hag, it looked like Luke Shaw was back to his best and new recruit, Tyrell Malacia, proved to be reliable back up, with a couple of highly credible performances, most notably in the 2-1 home win over Liverpool.

With highly-rated Alvaro Carreras coming through the academy, United seemed they had one position sorted for the foreseeable future. Wrong.

It was announced before the pre-season tour of the United States began that Tyrell Malacia had picked up a knee injury that has been shrouded in mystery ever since. Despite numerous reports that the player was close to a return throughout the season, it was finally revealed that he will most likely play no part in the rest of the current campaign.

Furthermore, Luke Shaw has only been available for 15 matches this campaign after picking up a muscle injury in August which saw him miss 92 days and he was hurt again last month. The United coach also revealed that the player only has an “outside” chance of making the last games of the season.

Carreras has also been sent on loan, first to Granada and then to Benfica, where his playing time has been minimal so far.

Logically, the Red Devils are very concerned about this particular position and as a consequence, they have bumped the left back position up the priority list according to well-respected journalist Fabrizio Romano, as they aim to definitely buy one this summer.

The question is, should this new left back be a backup replacement for Malacia or should it be someone who can relegate Shaw to a support role?

In defence of the Englishman, he is incredibly important to how United play and when he is on form, United tend to do well.

The Athletic have already justified the 28 year old’s importance to the Old Trafford side by stating, “the England left-back is not only their best defender in wide areas, he is also vital to how Ten Hag’s team progress the ball between the two penalty boxes. Shaw’s left-footedness is essential to Ten Hag’s tactics and the Dutchman values the passing angles and defensive orientation this brings”.

Furthermore, the player has developed a strong on-pitch connection with Marcus Rashford and it is possible that one of the reasons behind the forward’s poor form this season could be to do with the little game time Shaw has had.

The two England stars clearly work well together on the left with Rashford often finding Shaw on overlap runs. Rashford has spoken of the relationship they have claiming, “it’s something we’ve had a lot of time to work on and grow into understanding each other’s game”.

However, the player is 28 years old and the unfortunate reality is he has never shaken his persistent injury problems. He is in his 10th season for the club but has only pulled on the red shirt 275 times. Compare this to Bruno Fernandes who is in his fifth season for the club but has already played 222 times for the Red Devils.

Whilst the England international did only miss 13 days due to injury last season, this is sadly the exception to the rule. He has already racked up 117 missed days in this campaign and missed 85 days in the 2021/22 season.

In fact, the player has not been available for selection a scarcely believable 1223 days since he signed for United. Whilst the data is skewed a little from his serious leg break in 2015, the player on average misses 122 days a season.

Add to this, when the former Southampton player does play, he is hardly a model of consistency. As mentioned previously, when he is on top form, he is fantastic and objectively one of the best full backs in the league. However, he often isn’t. And at 28 years old, it is hard to imagine this will ever change.

Therefore, INEOS must be ruthless and aim to bring in a left back who will take Shaw’s place as first choice. The Red Devils have been linked to high level options such as Miguel Gutiérrez at Girona and Alejandro Balde at Barcelona.

Both players are young, Gutierrez at 22 years old and Balde at 20, yet have sufficient top level experience to be considered viable first choice options.

Moreover, Shaw would offer incredible depth as a backup and could be a major help to the new left back’s settling in period. United’s very own Jonny Evans is an example of a player who has been injury-ridden in the recent past, but with playing less and managing game time, has been a very valuable signing for the Mancunian team.

It stands to reason that if Shaw is not made to put his body through so much, especially with the physical rigours of being a modern day fullback, he will be injured less. A Balde or Gutierrez playing 35 games a season and a well-rested Shaw filling in for 15-20 games sounds like an exciting prospect for United fans as a way to solve at least one hole in the team that every passing day seems to more resemble a colander.

The post INEOS must be ruthless and purchase a left back to relegate injury-ridden Luke Shaw to bench appeared first on Man United News And Transfer News | The Peoples Person.