Man Utd agree personal terms with new left-back

The left-back role is an area Jose Mourinho is likely to upgrade this summer and Manchester United have been linked with a number of players here.

Ashley Young made the role his own last season but turns 33 next week and isn’t an out-and-out defender.

Our other options currently at left-back are Matteo Darmian, who is closing in on a move to Juventus, Daley Blind and Marcos Rojo, who have both been linked with a move away from the club this summer, and Luke Shaw, whom the boss doesn’t seem to be a big fan of.

Among the players linked with a move to Old Trafford this summer is Juventus left-back Alex Sandro.  The Brazilian is regarded as one of the best players in his position in Europe.  Though he didn’t make the Brazil squad for this summer’s World Cup as Real Madrid’s Marcelo and Atletico Madrid’s Felipe Luis are coming off excellent seasons themselves.

It is now being reported that we have agreed personal terms with the 27-year-old, though we do still need to persuade Juventus to sell.

Duncan Castles on the Transfer Window podcast has reported that we have agreed personal terms with the Brazilian but that the Italian Serie A champions will be demanding £53 million for the defender, which could prove to be a stumbling block.

Alex Sandro can both defend and support the attack.  Like Young, Sandro can put a good delivery into the box from the left wing and is also a good dribbler of the ball.  He likes to run at the opposition in the final third.

There’s no doubt that we could do with a new left-back this summer but a deal for the Juventus regular won’t come cheap.  We’ll have to wait between now and the end of the transfer window to see if we can agree a price with the Italian giants or if Jose switches targets.