The Athletic: Man Utd preparing late-summer onslaught for rising LaLiga star as Lewis Hall plans delayed
Manchester United have identified Jorge Salinas as a present solution for their left-back woes after struggling in their pursuit of Lewis Hall.
After signing Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos, the Premier League giants put their midfield reboot on hold and turned their attention towards signing a new left-back.
Luke Shaw is currently the only recognised left-back in Michael Carrick’s first team, as Patrick Dorgu has been fielded as a winger since the manager’s arrival in January, while the young Harry Amass is widely believed to be on his way out of the club.
Man Utd lay plans for Jorge Salinas & Lewis Hall
In the latest edition of The Transfer DealSheet, The Athletic’s Man Utd correspondent Laurie Whitwell discussed the club’s full-back plans.
The journalist begins by mentioning Myler Lewis-Skelly, who produced a fabulous performance in Arsenal’s 3-0 victory over Man City in the Community Shield.
While Whitwell doesn’t fully rule out a move for the teenager, he considers it a particularly complicated track, especially with the player keen to stay with the Gunners.
Since the start of the summer, Lewis Hall has been Man Utd’s top target for the role. However, Newcastle have slammed the door shut in the face of any approach, insisting the player isn’t for sale.
Therefore, the source suggests that the Red Devils will not completely abandon their plans for the 21-year-old Englishman, but will simply postpone it to next summer.
In the meantime, INEOS could acquire the services of Jorge Salinas, whose contract with Racing Santander includes a €16 million release clause, making him both available and affordable.
Why Man United are interested in Salinas
Salinas is a Santander native who joined his hometown club at a tender age and became a member of the first team last season.
In his first year with the seniors, the 19-year-old played an integral role in Racing’s promotion to LaLiga. This summer, he was also a protagonist as Spain U19 went on to clinch the European Championship.
On Sunday, Salinas made his first appearance in Spain’s top flight. He played 90 minutes in the 2-2 draw against Villarreal.
Therefore, the teenager can be considered one of the most exciting young full-backs in Europe, and he appears destined to join a top club sooner or later.
If Man Utd were to sign Salinas this summer, the management would have to assess whether they still need Hall in their ranks next year. If the Spaniard produces convincing displays, this would be deemed one of the best coups of the summer considering the player’s age and modest transfer fee.
