Manchester United may choose to keep Matthijs de Ligt and Luke Shaw at Old Trafford this summer despite the duo's spotty injury history and their search for a new left-back.
Should United keep De Ligt and Shaw?
Manchester United are on course to have one of their biggest summer transfer windows in over a decade as the club look to ready their squad for the return of European football.
Having finished 15th and lost the Europa League final last season, and having been knocked out of the Carabao Cup and FA Cup this campaign, the Reds are playing only 40 games this season.
However, with the side expected to qualify for the Champions League for 2026/27, the side is in dire need of upgrades in multiple areas of the squad, with the resulting cash prizes of finishing third in the league to add to the club's transfer funds.
However, with an ageing squad in some areas of the field, such as defence, many have questioned whether the club could look to move on some surprise names.
United optimistic about Shaw and De Ligt
Among those names who have been thrown out there as possible surprise sales are Luke Shaw and Matthijs de Ligt, mostly due to their injury records.
Shaw has missed over 300 games for club and country due to injury since joining United in 2014, while De Ligt sustained a mysterious back injury at the end of November and hasn't been seen since.
However, according to The Athletic, United still consider De Ligt as a player with his best years ahead of him, and likely see him as a right-sided centre-back across United's back four once he returns to duty.
As for Shaw, many assumed at the beginning of the season that the United defender would be heading for the exit door this summer.
But, as detailed by The Athletic, his ability to remain fit and available this campaign may see United keep him for a final season before his contract expires in June 2027.
United looking at left-back options this summer
While Shaw looks odds-on to stay at the Old Trafford beyond this summer, United are still reportedly eyeing up a new left-back for the summer transfer window.
One name on their list of possible recruits is Arsenal starlet Myles Lewis-Skelly, who is finding minutes hard to come by either at left-back or in midfield despite his brilliant performances last campaign.
However, Barcelona's Alejandro Balde is another name the club are reportedly keeping a close eye on, although the Catalan giants are keen to keep the 22-year-old this summer.
Newcastle's Lewis Hall, who has been brilliant of late, is widely admired, including by those at United, while Crystal Palace's Tyrick Mitchell and Fulham star Antonee Robinson are also on the list.