According to Pete O’Rourke via Football Insider, Manchester United will push to secure the services of a new right-back ahead of next season. The Red Devils seek more quality and depth in that position, given Luke Shaw’s injury track record and the fact that he is set to enter the final year of his deal at Old Trafford.
Shaw has been a part of the United setup since 2014, and he has been an important member of their team over the years. While injuries have caused him a lot of problems, the 30-year-old has made it a habit of bouncing back in some fashion.
He has regained full fitness and has started in all 31 of their league games this term. He is in fine form under Michael Carrick and is expected to be their preferred choice at left-back next season as well.
However, United are still planning to bring in a new left-sided full-back, someone who can cover as well as compete with Luke Shaw. The Southampton graduate will only have a year left on his deal this summer, and since both parties haven’t held any talks over a potential extension, his long-term future is up in the air.
Shaw could choose to leave United for free in a year’s time, and the club wants to be prepared for that situation. While they do have Patrick Dorgu in their ranks, he is expected to feature in a more advanced role, and Tyrell Malacia is expected to be on his way out this summer.
While speaking about the left-back situation at Old Trafford, O’Rourke said, “(Left-back) looks like it’s an area of the team that Man United are planning to strengthen in. They want cover and competition for Luke Shaw.
“Obviously, Shaw’s had a good season this season, but we know he has had his injury problems at Old Trafford as well, and he hasn’t got much longer to run on his contract.”
Apart from his contract situation, his injury track record is another big reason why United want to invest in a new full-back. They are looking to sign a young player who can help them in both the short and long run.
They have already prepared a shortlist of targets and Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly is one of the names on their radar. It will be interesting to see which player they go after and if they do manage to get a deal over the line.
