Manchester United are eager to bolster their defense, which was severely impacted by injuries last season.
Unfortunately, injuries continue to be a significant issue for United this season as well.
Even before the season has started, key players Rasmus Hojlund and new signing Leny Yoro have sustained injuries that will sideline them for six weeks and three months, respectively.
Adding to their woes, Marcus Rashford and Antony also suffered knocks during today’s pre-season game against Real Betis, which United won 3-2. There has been no update yet on the severity of their injuries.
Last season, United faced almost 66 injuries, leading to a disastrous conclusion of their Premier League campaign.
United experienced their worst season in the league, finishing 8th.
The left-back position, in particular, caused significant frustration for Erik ten Hag, with both senior left-backs – Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia – spending substantial time on the sidelines.
Man Utd target Ben Chilwell
Now, Chelsea defender Ben Chilwell has emerged as a “shock target” for Manchester United as they seek further reinforcements in defense this summer.
According to Alex Cook of talkSPORT, the 27-year-old fullback is on the “list of potential targets” at Old Trafford, with his future at Stamford Bridge in doubt.
It’s perplexing why United would consider another left-back who is just as injury-prone as Shaw and Malacia, if not more.
Chilwell had a disappointing campaign for Chelsea last season. He fell out of favor under Mauricio Pochettino due to a combination of poor form and repeated knee injuries, leading the Argentine manager to prefer Marc Cucurella as the season progressed.
TalkSPORT’s report states that Chilwell “has the problem of not fitting” into his new manager’s system.
Enzo Maresca, Chelsea’s new manager, described the 27-year-old’s situation as “delicate” in a recent interview, emphasizing the need to “find…the right position” for him.
Financial constraints will be a factor for United for the remainder of the transfer window due to the pressure of the Premier League’s Profits and Sustainability Rules (PSR).
Following the expensive acquisitions of Leny Yoro and Joshua Zirkzee, United need to sell before they can buy.
Furthermore, United are prioritising acquiring a central defender and a defensive midfielder, along with a right-back, namely Noussair Mazraoui.
Therefore, purchasing a left-back appears challenging at the moment.
A move for Chilwell might make more sense as a loan deal later in the window, similar to the one agreed for Cucurella at the end of the transfer window last summer, which fell through due to Chelsea’s high loan fee demands.
If Chelsea are more reasonable in their demands for an unwanted left-back this summer, Ten Hag may have found a short-term solution to the left-back issue that plagued him last season.
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