This summer could see Manchester United keen to sign a left-back considering Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia cannot be relied on.
For the past decade, Luke Shaw has been the left-back at Manchester United but during this time he’s missed more than 250 games through injury.
When fit, there’s little debating his quality and status as one of the world’s best in his position, but this season, he’s barely been fit.
He has made just 12 appearances in the league with a further two in the Champions League, and one in the FA Cup.
This makes it one of his worst-ever seasons for injuries and a wake-up call that the position should be strengthened.
Making the position even more urgent to strengthen is the fact his understudy Tyrell Malacia has been injured since last July, not playing a single minute this season.
So, because of this, a left back is on the cards, and according to HITC’s transfer expert Graeme Bailey, there is one clear option.
Manchester United could target Juan Miranda this summer
Speaking with United in Focus exclusively, Graeme Bailey explained that while the right-back position has long been rumoured as a position which could be strengthened, he doesn’t see it happening.
This is because the left-back position is far more in need of reinforcement.
He continued then to admit there is one option for the position which wouldn’t surprise him, and he happens to come free.
“I wouldn’t be surprised to see them linked to Juan Miranda from Betis, he is a very fascinating left-back who’s on a free who West Ham watched at the weekend and the likes of Sociedad.
“So I think you’ll see his name, not just for United but a few English clubs actually, I’d keep an eye on him actually.”
If United managed to secure a free signing to strengthen the left-back position it could be quite the coup, and leave the budget for positions such as central defence and central midfield.
But who is Miranda, and what might he offer Erik ten Hag‘s side?
Would Juan Miranda suit Old Trafford?
Whoever is recruited at left-back this summer, chances are they’ll be the understudy to Shaw when he’s fit.
For this reason, Miranda could be absolutely perfect for this summer, as he’d be more than happy to be the second choice to begin with at least.
The La Masia graduate is in the midst of an impressive campaign for Real Betis.
Here are his stats from this campaign.
The Spaniard as we can see, has the passing quality which is needed to be the understudy to Shaw.
At 24, he’s the perfect age to build the gap for a year or two until Harry Amass is ready to properly take on the mantle of first-team football, perhaps succeeding a loan.