Breaking News: Man United Confirmed another injury as Erik ten Hag’s makes next transfer decision update

In the next weeks, Manchester United will need to strengthen a lot of areas, but one shouldn’t be disregarded even though it’s not a top priority.

Erik ten hag has several transfer queries to think about (Image: Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images)

When asked why Sergio Reguilon’s season-long loan was terminated early, Erik ten Hag responded, “They assured me they will both be fit in January,” referring to Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia.

After being left with an egg on his face, Ten Hag might have felt betrayed. Shaw had made a brief comeback in February, but he quickly suffered an injury that would terminate his professional career. It’s understandable that United supporters could have overlooked Malacia as a viable possibility.

Even though the defender has been with the team for more than two years, his return will make him feel like a new addition. When the 24-year-old does return, there will be expectations on him to produce.

The Dutchman’s contract is only good for another two years, and under Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s cost-cutting policies, a sale next summer is not out of the question. Since undergoing knee surgery in the summer, the full-back has experienced heartbreaking setbacks.

It indicates that he hasn’t hit the pitch in almost a year, and a recent medical assessment has indicated he won’t before October. Given that he was left behind at Carrington when United departed for their preseason tour of the United States, that time range is not surprising.

With Shaw limited to just 15 games owing to three separate ailments and Malacia out of play, United’s left-back alternatives may have caused Ten Hag some issues last season. After Reguilon returned to Tottenham and was later loaned to Brentford, United needed to find a deputy to take his place.

Although Diogo Dalot ultimately performed a respectable job in the role, he is by no means the best choice. Full-backs are not like wingers in this day and age, who would rather play on the opposite flank to their strongest foot.

Dalot’s natural right-footedness occasionally came undone, though it’s hard to hold him accountable. Compared to Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Victor Lindelof, he appeared less lost, however that doesn’t mean that he should be Shaw’s backup for the first part of the season.

Wessair Mazraoui is the target for United, as Wan-Bissaka is closely associated with West Ham. Dalot is still anticipated to be the starting right-back, but if he is used on the left side due to a Shaw injury, he has good reason to feel like the underdog.

Even if Ten Hag is only out for around two months of the season, he cannot make the same error as he did the previous year and fail to provide Malacia with enough cover. Despite everyone’s best intentions, it appears that Malacia’s recuperation is so fragile that this timeline cannot be trusted.

A return for Reguilon or another feasible loanee shouldn’t be completely discounted given the demand for reinforcement in other areas this summer. Since left-footed and left-sided centre-back Lisandro Martinez missed large chunks of the previous season’s action, United supporters are aware of the dangers of having an unbalanced defence.