Shaw’s replacement: Ranking Man Utd’s eight other options at left-back
While deadline day tends to be one of the most exciting days of the year, it was anything but at Manchester United.
On Tuesday, the Red Devils’ rivals were either busy shoring up their squads or had already addressed all of their issues in previous days.
At Carrington, it was neither this nor that.
Even though all supporters, pundits, and even club directors were in agreement over United’s dire need for a new left-back, INEOS sat idle, deciding to postpone the matter for another transfer window.
Man United failed to sign a left-back this summer
Apparently, the management is playing a long game, as they still consider Lewis Hall the perfect fit for the role, and they intend to launch a new onslaught next summer, hoping that Newcastle would be more lenient.
Therefore, the objective was to find a temporary solution for this season. But after failing to sign the likes of Alejandro Balde and Rayan Ait-Nouri on loan, they simply raised the white flag, leaving it to Michael Carrick to find an internal solution.
Whether the gaffer likes it or not, Luke Shaw remains his ultimate first choice at left-back. The 31-year-old started every single Premier League fixture, but he certainly can’t play 60 matches per season, especially with his injury record.
So the question that begs itself is: Who will be next in line to start at left-back when Shaw is either unavailable or rested?
Since the answer might not be as straightforward as Carrick would have liked, we decided to highlight eight potential options and list them from the least to the most suitable choice.
8. Diego Leon
When Man Utd snapped up the Paraguayan teenager almost two years ago, the expectation was that he would be ready to join the first team, if not immediately, then shortly afterwards.
However, the 19-year-old isn’t anywhere near making his senior debut, and despite the shortage of left-back options at Carrick’s court, he will likely spend his season with the U21 side.
7. Ayden Heaven
Like most left-footed centre-backs, Heaven was tested at left-back at one point. Although he didn’t embarrass himself, he seemed to be an awkward fit out wide.
So barring emergencies, the young Englishman shouldn’t be fielded at full-back, instead, Carrick should keep handing him chances at the heart of the backline, as he has the potential to become a stalwart for the club.
6. Carlos Baleba
Imagine chasing a player for 12 months, making him your marquee signing, only to play him out of position.
In the current day and age, we’re increasingly seeing midfielders fielded as full-backs and vice versa, as both positions require well-rounded skills.
That being said, let’s hope it doesn’t come to that, as most of us are itching to see Baleba marshalling the middle of the park, which is the role he was born to play.
5. Diogo Dalot
Dalot might be familiar with playing on the left, but has often looked more comfortable down the right side, where he can deliver crosses to the box without having to waste time by cutting to his stronger foot.
4. Lisandro Martinez
In the past, Jamie Carragher and others vigorously argued that the Argentine is too small to play at centre-back and should instead be moved to left-back, where his size would be less impeding.
The 2022 World Cup winner has often defied the odds and proved the naysayers wrong, but with Heaven now establishing himself as a competent choice at centre-back, perhaps Carrick could be tempted to occasionally move Lisandro out wide.
3. Patrick Dorgu
Man Utd might be desperate for a new left-back, but not so long ago, they had spent £26 million on a young, promising player who started his career in this exact role.
Dorgu may have found success in his first few outings as a left winger under Carrick, but his technical limitations are getting exposed. Moreover, a left-footed left-winger is hardly fashionable these days.
With his blistering pace and strong physical presence, the Dane has all the makings of a modern full-back, at least if Jonny Evans and Jonathan Woodgate can help him improve his marking and overall defending.
2. Harry Amass
In the final few months of the 2024/25 campaign, Man Utd were rapidly plunging into the deep bottom half of the Premier League, with Ruben Amorim and Co. fixated on the Europa League. Nevertheless, Amass was arguably one of the more convincing players at Man Utd during that horrific run.
At the age of 19, the MUFC academy product might be deemed too green for a prominent first-team role, but the likes of Balde, Nuno Mendes, and Alphonso Davies had all made their breakthroughs as teenagers, so Man Utd owe the youngster the chance to swim or sink.
1. Noussair Mazraoui
Realistically speaking, the Moroccan is Carrick’s most reliable choice to fill in for Shaw. The 28-year-old has vast experience under his belt, and often plays at left-back on the international level to accommodate Achraf Hakimi.
So while he might not be the most exciting option, we can expect to see Mazraoui patrolling the left flank throughout the campaign, especially with Carrick setting up Leny Yoro for a right-back role.
