Will United go into the transfer window empty‑handed at left‑back? The club has ruled out signings of Alejandro Balde and Jorge Salinas, so a specialist for the flank looks unlikely unless a last‑minute surprise emerges.
Carrick’s team scouted 22‑year‑old Balde on deadline day after he sat unused as Barcelona beat Rayo Vallecano 5‑2, but the loan pursuit has now been dropped.
Talks also covered 19‑year‑old Jorge Salinas, whose Racing Santander deal carries a €16 million release clause. Atletico Madrid showed interest, yet his club insists he remains in Santander.
United’s left‑back picture remains thin, with senior option Luke Shaw the sole regular. Carrick views Patrick Dorgu as a winger, while Harry Amass, 19, sits on the periphery.
Nossair Mazraoui and Diogo Dalot can shift from right‑back, providing the only immediate alternatives for Carrick.
Amass was linked with a permanent exit or loan this summer, but nothing materialised. United hoped a new signing would free him up. The former Watford prospect will now play for the U‑21s and back up Shaw.
Analysis by Manchester United correspondent Cerys Jones
Shaw’s injury log makes the lack of a new left‑back unsettling for United fans. In my view, relying on a player with a chronic availability issue is a gamble.
Shaw featured in all 38 league games last term and, when fit, adds real quality; his link‑up with Marcus Rashford is a plus. Yet a Champions League campaign demands depth, and Shaw’s 31‑year‑old body has shown cracks, as Ipswich’s opener at Old Trafford illustrated.
The ideal replacement seemed to be Newcastle’s 21‑year‑old Lewis Hall, who could have taken over from Shaw rather than merely covered him. Newcastle have held firm, leaving Hall at St James’ Park, but United might revisit the target next summer when Shaw’s contract ends. A loan like Balde’s would have bought time for a long‑term solution. By staying the course, United keep Hall in the picture, while hoping Shaw can repeat his durability.
If Amass stays, he could break into the first team next season, but will Carrick finally name a clear Shaw successor?