Manchester United have reportedly lined up a surprise defender to cover for Luke Shaw’s injury absence.
United announced in a club statement that Shaw had suffered a calf injury in pre-season training and would be out until at least the international break in September.
He hasn’t played for United since February due to a hamstring problem, but did return to play 120 minutes for England in the Euro 2024 final in July.
According to The Athletic, United have been working behind-the-scenes on signing a new left-sided centre-back and left-back prior to Shaw’s injury becoming public knowledge.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s first window as minority co-owner has seen United largely target younger players, with 18-year-old Leny Yoro arriving for a fee of £52 million.
But they are now targeting a player who is very much into the second stage of their career – former Barcelona left-back Marcos Alonso.
The Athletic claim that United have ‘discussed’ the possibility of bringing the Spaniard to Old Trafford after his release from Barca in the summer.
He was also linked with a move to Old Trafford last summer, but Erik ten Hag’s side opted to sign Sergio Reguilon on loan from Tottenham instead.
Alonso starred for Chelsea in their 2016/17 Premier League title-winning season, and went on to score 29 goals in his six years at Stamford Bridge.
But there were concerns over his technical abilities, and the Spaniard was undoubtedly more suited to a five-defender formation – a system Ten Hag doesn’t play – during his time in England.
But fans are not totally convinced by the link.
One wrote: “Crikey, he’s 33!”
Another said: “They haven’t learned… maybe in a hard way.”
A third added: “It’s going to be a rough window in the end dragging someone like Marcos Alonso to the club.”
And a fourth wrote: “Sign Ferdi Kadioglu. We can’t succeed with workarounds every season.”
Others, though, were more welcoming to the possibility of Alonso joining United: “I wouldn’t mind Marcos Alonso on a free but would prefer Ferdi or Sergio Reguilon.”
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