Manchester United Yet To Make Decision On Whether To Sign Left-Back | OneFootball

By Dylan Mc Bennett · July 16, 2026

Manchester United remain active in the transfer market, as the club aims to add a third midfielder to the squad in the coming weeks. Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans have been much-needed additions, with the former expected to be included in the squad this Saturday against Wrexham. Tielemans is likely to join the squad at a later date as he continues to recover from Belgium’s World Cup Campaign.

Regarding the club’s pursuit of a third midfield signing, Manu Kone & Eduardo Camavinga are among the players being monitored. However, it is also believed there are other targets that INEOS are keeping under wraps as they attempt to keep their cards close to their chest.

Many praised the surprise nature of the Tielemans signing, and the club’s hierarchy may be hoping to complete their third midfield signing in a similarly discreet manner.

Elsewhere in the squad, another addition is expected before the transfer window closes. However, there remains uncertainty over which position that signing will address, with much depending on the future of Marcus Rashford. Rashford’s future is felt to be nearing some sort of resolution after England crashed out of the World Cup last night to Argentina. Rashford featured for the final 3 minutes of added time, despite being one of England’s only goal scorers in the tournament.

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MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 01: Marcus Rashford of Manchester United after the Premier League match between Manchester United FC and Everton FC at Old Trafford on December 01, 2024 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

Michael Carrick is said to be open to reintegrating Marcus Rashford into the squad, having previously shared a dressing room with the forward during his playing career. The main issue surrounding Rashford remains his wages, which are reportedly around £325k a week. INEOS are keen to move that wage off the wage bill, making a permanent sale for the 28-year-old ideally the best scenario for the club. Barcelona are understood to have turned down the chance to sign Rashford for £40m, and there are currently no other teams coming to the top of the queue for the player.

The sale of Marcus Rashford would undoubtedly make Manchester United’s next transfer priority much clearer. Should the academy graduate depart, the likelihood is a left-winger will be heavily targeted. Crysencio Summerville is a player admired internally at Old Trafford and is likely to cost around £35m this summer if he is to leave West Ham United. A move for Summerville is not anticipated unless Rashford departs.

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NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND – MARCH 10: Lamine Yamal of FC Barcelona passes the ball whilst under pressure from Lewis Hall of Newcastle United during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Round of 16 First Leg match between Newcastle United FC and FC Barcelona at St James’ Park on March 10, 2026 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)

Something that does become more likely if Rashford remains at the club is a move for a left-full back. The club are wary about the lack of options in the position, no doubt sweating over the fitness of Luke Shaw. Shaw had his most successful season in terms of staying fit last year, but given his history on the treatment table, it’s not felt that is easily achieved again in the upcoming campaign.

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Lewis Hall from Newcastle United would be United’s primary target, but a deal is viewed as unlikely. El Hadji Malick Diouf is also someone the club could look to bring in. Players like Bradley Locko would be open to a move to Manchester United, with the club having clear interest in the player prior to his Achilles injury in 2024.

Of course, any funds for a left-back will depend on how high the club are willing to spend on a midfielder. Manu Kone is likely to be available for around £60m, whereas Eduardo Camavinga’s price tag has not been made clear at the moment. Camavinga does not want to leave Real Madrid, so a deal for the former Stade Rennais midfielder is viewed as very difficult at this moment in time. United may be used as a pawn, similar to how Aurelien Tchouameni’s agency used United to gain themselves a new deal at Los Blancos.

Kone could be the most likely target. Chelsea have reported interest, but Kone’s injury record will be a worry. Someone the Reds could target who would be a relatively easy deal to get over the line is Carlos Baleba. The Brighton midfielder is firmly open to a switch to Old Trafford, but a deal and negotiations with the Seagulls provide the only true complication. Toby Collyer remains the only player United have signed from Brighton since they gained promotion back to the Premier League. Tony Bloom’s leadership team have a reputation for being extremely difficult to deal with.

The plan will become clear soon, and with three signings already on the door, the expectation is that at most two more will follow. Whether that final signing is a left-back or a left-winger depends on Marcus Rashford.

If the club don’t sign a left-back, Harry Amass being promoted to the first-team permanently could be an option. Amass had moments in the first team at the end of Ruben Amorim’s first campaign, and was impressive on loan at Sheffield Wednesday last season in a difficult environment. The 19-year-old looks to have bulked up in pre-season, and will be well used to senior football after his stint in the Championship last season.

Amass is more likely to find his way into the first team next season over Diego Leon, who has been improving with the U21’s since signing from Cerro Porteno last July. Patrick Dorgu could also still be utilised at left-back, despite reports the club view him as a left-winger.

United signed Amass from Watford in June of 2023, and there was always a belief he could eventually break into the first-team internally. There’s a chance that finally comes to fruition this season.