The left-back market…

Bondi77 said:
He looks good but the million dollar question is if he could make the step up to the Premier League.
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I think he will go on to be a really good player. Just needs to improve his physicality, which he will naturally. I'd be happy to use him as backup next season, with the view that he can be Shaw's long term successor. The problem for next season is having a first choice left back because Shaw is unreliable.
 
aeh1991 said:
Antonee Robinson feels a tad too old for what he offers. I think we can find younger defenders of similar price/quality.

I'm also sceptical of Ait Nouri who is an excellent LWB but can he play LB too? Also I read that Wolves want some decent fee so again, we could find cheaper options.

Hernandez would be the dream signing on that position, but I dont think we stand a chance without CL. We could still try to tempt him. But he'd cost at least 60m.

Miguel Gutierrez looks interesting, but has a slight risk of being a one season wonder. I still like his profile and he's got an affordable release clause.

Ian Maatsen is definitely interesting depending on where he sees himself next season. Has a release clause, but I could imagine him staying at BVB.

Alejandro Grimaldo has never really worked a s a pure LB and with Xabi extending I guess the chances to get him are 0%.

Alfie Doughty looks a player who could pull it off and is EPL proven. Definitely worth a try if we wanna spare some money for other positions.

Leif Davis would be the most risky one but his stats are so impressive. I mean no matter what league, 20 assists as a pure LB is amazing!
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Ye id go all out for Hernandez. We shouldn’t be looking at back ups to shaw. We should be looking at better to replace him. And if shaw accepts a squad role then we’d have 2 decent choices at LB. Shaw can’t be relied on to keep fit. Malacia looked like a good young back up at the time and still could be but all depends if he puts this massive injury behind him.
 
Mentioned it before, but Ferdi Kadioglu of Fenerbahce is a very good attacking minded modern left back, right footed though. The commentator said Arsenal scouts were at the last game to watch him live, so might potentially end up there.
 
DJ_21 said:
Ye id go all out for Hernandez. We shouldn’t be looking at back ups to shaw. We should be looking at better to replace him. And if shaw accepts a squad role then we’d have 2 decent choices at LB. Shaw can’t be relied on to keep fit. Malacia looked like a good young back up at the time and still could be but all depends if he puts this massive injury behind him.
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time to move on from Shaw, he's been here since 2014 !
 
SAF is the GOAT said:


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Having a selection choice of Martinez, Shaw and Maguire as left sided centre back and Shaw, Gutierrez and Amass at left back is a great selection problem to have and it would allow us to bring a top right sided centre back as first choice like Silva, Diomande or Todibo and someone like Adarabioyo as back up alongside Maguire and Kambwala.
 
Why aren't we all over the Maatsen deal? The Chelsea academy apparently is a great fullback factory.
 
JE-365 said:
If Gutierrez has £30m release clause then it’s a must buy for left back in my opinion. He has no injury record this season, capable to play in a team who wants to play from the back, can play inverted full back, and has good tactical awareness (see below). Tick all boxes to be the perfect full back in modern game.

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/tactical-awareness_miguel-gutiérrez-girona-activity-7140660125442248706-G9Z8?utm_source=li_share&utm_content=feedcontent&utm_medium=g_mb_web&utm_campaign=copy
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Not sure he has the best physical profile, although a very good footballer. As you said, he’d be great for an inverted game, although I think Maatsen for around about the same release clause also has merits.
 
JE-365 said:
If Gutierrez has £30m release clause then it’s a must buy for left back in my opinion. He has no injury record this season, capable to play in a team who wants to play from the back, can play inverted full back, and has good tactical awareness (see below). Tick all boxes to be the perfect full back in modern game.

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/tactical-awareness_miguel-gutiérrez-girona-activity-7140660125442248706-G9Z8?utm_source=li_share&utm_content=feedcontent&utm_medium=g_mb_web&utm_campaign=copy
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He does kind of scream "obvious buy." But given that he's at Girona, with or without the release clause, it could be a much more difficult deal to do than you might think. City probably already have they're hooks in him.
 
H10 said:
Mentioned it before, but Ferdi Kadioglu of Fenerbahce is a very good attacking minded modern left back, right footed though. The commentator said Arsenal scouts were at the last game to watch him live, so might potentially end up there.
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He is strongly linked to Arsenal.
 
We could also look at Patrick Dorgu of Lecce or Bradley Locko of Brest. Young, athletic, durable and not likely to cost a bomb. Both can back up/replace Shaw and compete with Amass in the long term for LB role.
 
Rozay said:
Not sure he has the best physical profile, although a very good footballer. As you said, he’d be great for an inverted game, although I think Maatsen for around about the same release clause also has merits.
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I don’t think a player needs to have physical profile as full backs as long as they have the tactical awareness, characteristic as fighter, and the technical attribute.
 
JE-365 said:
I don’t think a player needs to have physical profile as full backs as long as they have the tactical awareness, characteristic as fighter, and the technical attribute.
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Full backs definitely need a physical profile, simply because wingers need a physical profile. They need to go 1v1 against speed and strength more than any other position on the pitch.
 
Rozay said:
Full backs definitely need a physical profile, simply because wingers need a physical profile. They need to go 1v1 against speed and strength more than any other position on the pitch.
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You have valid point. But Gutierrez is 180cm, he’s not exactly lacking of physical profile.
 
I haven’t watched a lot of Girona this season but from what I have seen of Gutierrez he’s pretty much perfect in terms of ability, size and age profile as well as having a £30 million release clause so Gutierrez, Shaw and Amass as our left back options next season would be a strong group and we wouldn’t in the situation we’re in this season.

I was actually on holiday in Costa Brava a few weeks ago with my daughter and did a day trip to Girona and spoke to a Girona fan sitting next to us in a restaurant and he raved about Gutierrez and Dovbyk, didn’t know a great deal about Dovbyk but he looks a decent player as well and has a £25 million release clause.
 
We should go for Mario Hermoso for Atletico as a LCB/LB option, and he's available on a "free" this summer. We need cover/competition in both positions and Hermoso will provide that. Shaw will continue to be first choice LB (when fit), but for when he breaks down again we can use either of Hermoso or Martinez at LB. Arsenal intended to use Martinez as an LB when they pursuid him, and we can do the same with Martinez/Hermoso.. Hermoso offers plenty of physicality and speed as well as being very good on the ball.
 
I think Doughty has the potential to be the next Robertson in terms of an LB pick up. Relatively cheap option as he's playing for Luton and they'll be relegated. Picked up a goal and 8 assists this season in the league.
 
What if I told you that we can get a 24 year old LB whose 6ft tall, who is used to the English game, who is currently the top assist man in his league and whose got just 1 year left in his contract? I am referring to Leif Davis, 43 games, 2 goals and 18 assists. That's more then Rashford, Garnacho, Hojlund, Antony, Mount, Mainoo and Eriksen put together.

I think that deal is a no brainer. We can pick his manager up while at it.
 
devilish said:
What if I told you that we can get a 24 year old LB whose 6ft tall, who is used to the English game, who is currently the top assist man in his league and whose got just 1 year left in his contract? I am referring to Leif Davis, 43 games, 2 goals and 18 assists. That's more then Rashford, Garnacho, Hojlund, Antony, Mount, Mainoo and Eriksen put together.

I think that deal is a no brainer.
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I like it. With him in the team we'll start to turn over a new leif.
 
devilish said:
What if I told you that we can get a 24 year old LB whose 6ft tall, who is used to the English game, who is currently the top assist man in his league and whose got just 1 year left in his contract? I am referring to Leif Davis, 43 games, 2 goals and 18 assists. That's more then Rashford, Garnacho, Hojlund, Antony, Mount, Mainoo and Eriksen put together.

I think that deal is a no brainer. We can pick his manager up while at it.
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I have pushed him along with Miguel Gutierrez and Bradley Locko. I really like his profile, it's actually really impressive. I could imagine him renewing his contract though, now that they play PL next season. But I would really hate the idea that he joins a different team. In an ideal world we would get him and McKenna together.
 
Get the lad from Luton and move on, Shaw will miraculously recover his fitness and form as soon as he comes in too.
 
aeh1991 said:
I have pushed him along with Miguel Gutierrez and Bradley Locko. I really like his profile, it's actually really impressive. I could imagine him renewing his contract though, now that they play PL next season. But I would really hate the idea that he joins a different team. In an ideal world we would get him and McKenna together.
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TBH I can't see him turning Manchester United down for Ipswich for 3 reasons

a- salary. Leaf Davis is at around 10k a week.
b- Considering the competition Leif has one hell of a chance of becoming United's no 1 LB. If he does that then the path for him to become England's no 1 LB is way open
c- I can't see him swapping Manchester United for a club who has a decent chance of getting relegated next season.
 
BeforeKeanetherewasRobson said:
Wish Shaw could guarantee his fitness as age wise, him playing next season, then Amass integrating more in 25/26 (assuming development continues) would seem to work.

If we buy a 24/25 year old, would Amass stay?
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Amass would probably benefit greatly from at least 1 year loan in the championship. After that then there will be place for him in the squad. Malacia is no world beater (and he has been out for a year) while Shaw's injury record won't get better with age
 
Remember the geese said:
I don't like loaning our best kids out. It's far too much of a lottery. His development will be in the lap of the Gods. I'd much rather trust ourselves to develop him in-house.
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He isn't getting any games despite us having no LBs to play. Loaning him is the best option
 
I'm not sure a new LB is needed.

If Ineos restructure the medical department, I'm expecting Shaw's injury record to improve, but we also need to manage him better...meaning that he shouldn't be playing 60 games a season. One game a week with a better medical department supporting him, and I'm confident we can see the 20/21 and 22/23 Shaw again.

Malacia is also better than most of these names I'm reading in here, barring maybe Gutierrez. There's also nothing to suggest he's an injury prone player. I'm pretty sure he will come good at United.

Martínez could (and maybe should) take up the LCB/LB role that Arteta and Pep have been using lately.

And then we have Amass, who looks like someone who will surely play for the first team one day.

Shaw, Malacia, Martínez and Amass could potentially be the best left back depth on the whole continent in a few years' time, IF the injury situation gets better.

If we do buy someone, I hope it's just a cheap punt similar to the Malacia deal..so in the 15-30m range.
 
Rojofiam said:
I'm not sure a new LB is needed.

If Ineos restructure the medical department, I'm expecting Shaw's injury record to improve, but we also need to manage him better...meaning that he shouldn't be playing 60 games a season. One game a week with a better medical department supporting him, and I'm confident we can see the 20/21 and 22/23 Shaw again.

Malacia is also better than most of these names I'm reading in here, barring maybe Gutierrez. There's also nothing to suggest he's an injury prone player. I'm pretty sure he will come good at United.

Martínez could (and maybe should) take up the LCB/LB role that Arteta and Pep have been using lately.

And then we have Amass, who looks like someone who will surely play for the first team one day.

Shaw, Malacia, Martínez and Amass could potentially be the best left back depth on the whole continent in a few years' time, IF the injury situation gets better.

If we do buy someone, I hope it's just a cheap punt similar to the Malacia deal..so in the 15-30m range.
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stop that. Can't stand another season of Shaw missing 70% of the games. LB is a priority. But I agree it should be one under 30m. Leif Davis, Miguel Gutierrez, Bradley Locko would all be good.
 
aeh1991 said:
stop that. Can't stand another season of Shaw missing 70% of the games. LB is a priority. But I agree it should be one under 30m. Leif Davis, Miguel Gutierrez, Bradley Locko would all be good.
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Right back, centre back, defensive midfielder, and right winger are all way bigger priorities than left back
 
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