Aheed Abrar
Erik ten Hag admits Manchester United could sign new left-back after Luke Shaw injury
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has admitted that the club could sign a new left-back this summer after the injury to Luke Shaw.
The England international picked up a knock and it is feared that he will be out for up to two months, as per the Manchester Evening News. As things stand, Tyrell Malacia is also on the sidelines.
To that end, speaking to the media via MEN, Ten Hag revealed that the Old Trafford side could try to bolster the left-hand side of the defence in the coming weeks if the right opportunity were to arise.
“It can be (that United sign a left-back). I think we always have to anticipate on situations. If there are opportunities then yes, but it has to be the right player otherwise we have to deal with the current squad.”
United signed Shaw in the summer of 2014 from Southampton. Subsequently, fitness issues have been a cause for concern for the defender over the years.
Thankfully, in the previous campaign, the 28-year-old was at the gaffer’s disposal for the most part. As a result, the left-back became a key player for the Dutch manager and was ever-present in the starting lineup.
We also have Malacia in our ranks. The Red Devils acquired the Holland national’s services last summer from Feyenoord. In the previous campaign, the 24-year-old gave tough competition for a place in the team.
However, the defender was unable to perform consistently. As a result, Shaw cemented his place in Ten Hag’s plans. The English national was deployed in the central defensive position on a few occasions as well and put in an admirable shift.
Unfortunately, with both our natural left-back options out of action, Diogo Dalot is arguably the next best option for us at the left-hand side of the defence. Lisandro Martinez has also played in that role during his time at Ajax Amsterdam.
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It remains to be seen who the gaffer will end up counting on. Whether the Old Trafford side will conjure up the funds to reinforce the left-back position will be interesting to see as well.
