Manchester United have been hard at work to improve their team this summer with the primary objective being to strengthen the midfield.
Casemiro departed and with Manuel Ugarte ruled out courtesy of a cruel ACL injury, two new central players have arrived in the form of Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos. Carlos Baleba is also about to be confirmed as a new United player.
Next on the agenda in the final week of the transfer window should be to sign a new left-back.
At the age of 31, Luke Shaw is not getting any younger and despite appearing in all 38 Premier League matches last term, is unlikely to cope with the rigours of a European campaign in 2026/27 too.
The latest on Man Utd’s pursuit of a new left-back
In their quest to sign a new left-back, there have been two main names and they are both English.
Lewis Hall has been their number one target but as the Red Devils will be all too aware of this summer now, they don’t always get who they want. We’re looking at Elliot Anderson and Mateus Fernandes here.
United have not necessarily been priced out of a move for Hall, who reportedly wants the move, but Newcastle are simply not looking to sell after seeing their squad ransacked. Sandro Tonali, Anthony Gordon and Bruno Guimaraes have all left in recent months.
As a result, alternatives have been floated. Fulham’s Antonee Robinson is reportedly on their radar while they were also allegedly offered Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly a few weeks ago.
The Gunners, however, do not want to sell and the player is happy at the Emirates Stadium.
A deal for Alejandro Balde of Barcelona, therefore, has been explored. He’s been celebrated as “one of the best full-backs in the world” by Hansi Flick and for good reason too.
Will Man Utd sign Balde before the deadline?
Aside from the aforementioned Hall, another priority target for United at left-back has indeed been Balde. So, what’s the latest on that move?
Well, speaking exclusively to Football FanCast this week, transfer reporter Ben Jacobs gave us all the insight needed.
Revealing the latest on their pursuit of Hall and Balde, Jacobs began: “Alejandro Balde has been offered around, and my understanding is that Barcelona would be prepared to sanction an exit at about €45m.
“Manchester United may be more inclined, though, to do a loan, and part of that is to give themselves freedom in 2027 if they want to make an assault on their top target, Lewis Hall.”
Why is that the case? Jacobs continued: “Hall is not thought to be available this late in the window. If Manchester United were given any encouragement by Newcastle United, they would be prepared to move, but it is felt more like Hall will stay, and that’s definitely the perspective of the Newcastle manager, Matthias Jaissle. Should he stay, Newcastle will start to accelerate talks to try and get him to sign a new deal, and then maybe the player becomes available in 2027.”
As a result, it may well be that United need to sign someone else before returning for the Toon star next summer.
Jacobs concluded: “Manchester United have to understand whether it’s better to sign a left-back now, or to find somebody that’s more of a stop-gap, and then to go for their ultimate lead target in Lewis Hall next year.
“Balde is one possibility. I’m just told if Manchester United move, they would prefer to have a loan and potentially an option to buy, as opposed to an outright sale. That could still be one to watch between now and the end of the window.”
