With just half a month to go before United's first game of the new season, the Community Shield clash with Manchester City on 10 August, Ten Hag is worried about the personnel situation at wing-back. The Red Devils, who have already travelled to United States training camp, are missing three full-backs · Diogu· Dalow, Luke · Shaw and Terrell.
The only first-team full-back to travel with the squad is Aaron Wan-Bissaka, but United are considering selling him. The 26-year-old England "Spider-Man" has entered the final year of his contract, and there is no renewal clause, and he is unwilling to act as a substitute, so it is difficult to renew his contract. Clubs such as West Ham United and Galatasaray are interested in bringing in from Manchester United.
Portugal international Darlow and England wing-back Luke · Shaw are both on leave for the knockout rounds of the European Championships, with 28-year-old Carlos England suffering from fitness concerns, having played just 15 games last season due to injury.
Darlow was one of United's most consistent players last season, never out injured, and will be a regular on the right side of the pitch for the new season, while Luke · Shaw will play on the left. Having a good main player has kept full-backs from being the focus of the summer window, but this has hidden dangers that could have a greater impact at any time.
In particular, once Wan-Bissaka leaves, there will be no reliable replacements for the left and right wing-backs. Malacia's injury is worse than Luke · Shaw, who was directly and completely reimbursed last season, and his last appearance for Manchester United was in May 2023. In the past year, he has undergone two surgeries on his knee.
Malacia will turn 25 next month after an injury forced United to sign Tottenham Hotspur's Sergio Reguilon on loan last year. United also considered Chelsea's Marc Cucurella, Barcelona's Marquez · Marco and Feyenoord's Slovakia internationals David · Hanko at the time.
Recently, Malacia returned to Carrington for individual training, but in the end, the team doctor decided that he was not suitable for a training camp in United States and that it was better to stay in Manchester to continue his recovery. Therefore, whether the Netherlands international can return at the start of the new season may be a big question mark.
Ten Hag, who used 19-year-old Sam · Murray at left-back in United's first two pre-season games against Rosenborg and Rangers, will also feature in United States, but he is yet to make his competitive debut and has not even featured when he was on loan at Rochdale in the National League.
The left-back in the second half of those two games was 17-year-old Harry · Armas, the England youngster who only joined from Watford last year but was highly regarded and was on the bench seven times last season. However, Ten Hag did not let him play, indicating that he did not think he was ready. United used centre-back Victor Lindelof, right-backs Darlow and Aaron Wan-Bissaka and even midfielder Amrabat for a cameo at left wing-back.
There have been rumours that United are looking to bring in a new left-back, with Fenerbahce's Turkey internationals Ferdy · Kadioglu being the most recent names to be mentioned. However, the news is mainly from the Turkish media, and Manchester United does not seem to have taken substantive action. Kadioglu featured for Jose Mourinho's side in Champions League qualifying, scoring a goal as Fenerbahce beat their opponents 4-3 away.
If United can sell Aaron Wan-Bissaka, they will also be prepared to bring in a right-back. Bayern Munich's Morocco international Nusal · Mazraoui, who played for Ten Hag at Ajax, is considered an option, and his transfer fee should be under €25 million.
It is worth mentioning that Kadioglu and Mazraoui can both play left and right, as well as in a central midfield position, and if one of the two can be acquired, Manchester United's full-back replacement crisis can be resolved.