Manchester United could pursue a new left-back during the upcoming transfer window.
Luke Shaw is presently the undisputed starter on the left side of United’s defence under manager Michael Carrick, but the club need a solid competitor with the extra workload next season.
United will play their 40th and final game of the campaign this weekend. That tally could increase to over 60 next term if the Red Devils progress deep into the Cup and European competitions.
Shaw has had a worrying injury record over the years, and he needs to be carefully managed with the additional matches next term. The club require a quality signing who could succeed the 30-year-old.
Patrick Dorgu is a candidate to provide backup to the Englishman, but it has been reported that United consider the Denmark international as a left winger and want another dynamic left-back.
United have been credited with an interest in Newcastle United’s Lewis Hall, but we believe the club should explore a deal for Bournemouth left-back Adrien Truffert instead this summer.
Truffert signed for the Cherries from Rennes as a replacement for Milos Kerkez last summer, and he has been ever-present on the left side of their defence and has been substituted just twice.
The Frenchman has won 5.5 duels per game with an average of 2.6 tackles, 3.8 clearances and 4.8 recoveries. In comparison, Hall has won 5.4 duels per outing with 1.8 tackles, 2.5 clearances and 4.4 recoveries.
Truffert has slightly superior defensive statistics to Hall and has also impressed with his positioning in both halves as a left-back. He has likewise caught the eye with his ability to deliver quality crosses into the box.
Meanwhile, Truffert has stayed unscathed since the start of the 2023/24 campaign. Hall, on the other hand, has missed nine games this season with a hamstring issue and was sidelined for 25 last term due to ankle surgery.
Looking at both, Truffert offers a better solution for the Red Devils. He showed his big-game potential on Tuesday night with a fine assist for Junior Kroupi’s stellar goal against Manchester City.
The 24-year-old was full of running over 90 minutes. Matheus Nunes was outsmarted by Truffert on many occasions, and it was probably his best performance in a Bournemouth shirt thus far.
Truffert was signed by the Cherries from Rennes for just £14.4 million last summer. Kerkez was sold to Liverpool for £40m in the same window, and it could take a similar fee to persuade the Cherries to part ways with Truffert.
Stats from Transfermarkt.com & Sofascore.com
