ESPN: Man Utd walked away from the chance to sign £35m who could have solved Carrick’s conundrum
Manchester United had the opportunity to buy RB Leipzig stalwart David Raum, but chose to sit idle.
The Premier League giants are entering the new campaign with a big question mark, as Luke Shaw is considered the only recognised left-back among the seniors.
The club was expected to address the issue by bringing in a new player who can share the role with the 21-year-old. But after missing out on Lewis Hall, INEOS wasn’t keen on any other alternative.
Man United chose not to buy David Raum
Sadly for Michael Carrick, he’ll have to figure out an internal solution, which could stem in new roles for Noussair Mazraoui and Patrick Dorgu, or placing his trust in 19-year-old Harry Amass.
According to ESPN journalist Rob Dawson, Raum could have been the answer for Man Utd, who were made aware that the left-back was available for £35 million.
The 28-year-old is an experienced German international who has been playing at Leipzig since 2022.
But as the source reveals, INEOS feared this could be a ‘disruptive’ move, in the sense that it would have affected the club’s other plans.
| Raum’s Stats by Club | Appearance | Goals | Assists |
| RB Leipzig | 145 | 7 | 30 |
| Greuther Fürth | 99 | 6 | 23 |
| Hoffenheim | 35 | 3 | 13 |
Dawson explains that United’s main objective for the summer of 2026 was to reinforce the midfield and make sure they had enough funds to make the necessary signings, so they wouldn’t have to revisit this department next year.
On the other hand, the backline will be thoroughly addressed next summer, with Hall considered the top priority for the left-back slot.
Were Man United right to snub Raum?
With only one year left on this contract, Raum’s £35 million asking price was somewhat excessive. So perhaps INEOS weren’t wrong to overlook him.
That being said, surely United could have found themselves a cheaper alternative had they dug deeper. This could have been a short-term solution to support Shaw until they sign (or at least try to) Hall next summer.
19-year-old Jorge Salinas represented another affordable solution thanks to his £13.5 million release clause. But if Carrick is going to entrust a teenager with a prominent role, he might as well unleash Amass.
