Will Man Utd have to pay the price for a 'rolling' transfer?
Man Utd completed the plan to strengthen the attack and midfield, but the delay in reforming the defense forced coach Michael Carrick to depend on Luke Shaw.
Shaw is the only pure left-back on Man Utd's first team in the 2026-2027 season. The 31-year-old player surprisingly started all 38 Premier League matches last season, a particularly impressive statistic considering his injury history. But this season Man Utd returns to the Champions League, which means the number of matches may exceed 60, and expecting Shaw to maintain physical condition to play continuously is a gamble.
Man Utd clearly understands that problem. They searched for many options, from Lewis Hall (Newcastle), Alejandro Balde (Barca), Jorge Salinas (Racing Santander), Nicolas Tagliafico (Lyon) to Rayan Ait-Nouri (Man City). But in the end, no one landed at Old Trafford in the summer of 2026.
This decision is a consequence of the way the club implemented its plan to rebuild the squad in stages. Man Utd's new football leadership team under billionaire Jim Ratcliffe has built a plan to rebuild the team in three layers, with the goal of bringing the club back to the Premier League championship race in 2028.
Summer 2025, attack is priority. Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko landed respectively for a total fee of about 207 million pounds (279 million USD).
This summer it's the midfield's turn. Man Utd recruited Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans and Carlos Baleba for a total fee of about 155 million pounds (209 million USD), in addition to available Kobbie Mainoo, Mason Mount and Bruno Fernandes.
Defense is identified as the final phase, expected to be deployed in the summer of 2027.
This approach has logic. Man Utd does not want to continue buying players just to fill the immediate void and then have to find a replacement a few years later. They also don't want to pay more than their internal valuation, even if that means missing out on a target.
Lewis Hall is the clearest example. Man Utd really likes this 22-year-old left-back and if Newcastle accepts the right price, they can complete the deal. But after Newcastle sold many key players to Premier League rivals this summer, Man Utd realized Hall could cost more than 60 million pounds ($81 million). The limited budget made them decide to spend money on the midfield, where Carlos Baleba was recruited for a fee of about 65 million pounds (88 million USD).
The problem is that that calculation leaves an obvious hole in the squad. Shaw played all 38 Premier League matches last season, but that was also the season when Man Utd played the fewest matches in a complete season in more than 110 years. Not participating in the Champions League and being eliminated early in both domestic Cups, the "Red Devils" have a relatively light schedule.
This season, the circumstances are different. Champions League will increase the number of matches sharply. Trips to Europe, a packed Premier League schedule and domestic Cups can cause Carrick to rotate continuously. A player who has repeatedly had physical problems like Shaw is unlikely to be expected to maintain 100% performance throughout the season.
In fact, in the 5-2 win over Ipswich last weekend, a warning signal also appeared. Shaw was surpassed in speed by Abdul Fatawu in the situation that led to Leif Davis's opening goal. Before that, if he was still at his best, Shaw could have returned in time to prevent Julio Enciso from finishing after a counterattack.
That is not proof that Shaw is no longer capable of playing at a high level. But it shows the risk that Man Utd accepts by not adding a quality left-back.
Carrick could currently use Noussair Mazraoui, Diogo Dalot or Patrick Dorgu in this role. Mazraoui used to regularly play left back for Morocco, and Dalot also moved to the opposite wing.
Leny Yoro was even tested by Carrick at right back during pre-season, opening up the possibility of Man Utd using this young centre-back as a flexible option on the wing. Yoro is only 20 years old but has the speed, strength and ball handling ability to adapt.
Harry Amass, a 19-year-old left-back who grew up from the academy, also stayed with the first team after being expected to leave on loan. Amass impressed in pre-season, but does not have much experience at the top level.
The problem is that they are all alternative options, instead of a true left-back capable of sharing the burden with Shaw.
Man Utd has recruited Alex Telles, Matteo Darmian or Sergio Reguilon in recent years, but these players did not meet long-term standards. Buying a short-term option just because the squad is short on players could cause the club to have to deal with another problem in the future.
Ait-Nouri is the latest example. Man Utd asked to borrow the Algerian left-back from Man City on the last day of the transfer. But Man City only accepts if the deal has a mandatory purchase clause in the summer of 2027. Man Utd does not want to commit to such a long-term deal.
Therefore, they accepted to enter the season with a completely unresolved position. This is the difference in Man Utd's new transfer policy. They would rather be short-term short-term than buy a player they don't really trust.
But football doesn't always work according to plan. Marcus Rashford is also part of the story. Man Utd's inability to release enough salary funds and squad also contributed to incomplete summer plans.
Rashford returned to Old Trafford after Barca did not activate the buyout clause worth 30 million euros (35 million USD). The English striker receives about 325,000 pounds (438,000 USD) per week, causing Man Utd to be significantly limited in its spending ability and squad structure.
Joshua Zirkzee also almost left the club on loan to Everton on the last day, but Man Utd could not find a replacement in time and decided to keep the Dutch striker. Under Carrick, Zirkzee only played 127 minutes.
Meanwhile, hopes of selling Manuel Ugarte also collapsed after the Uruguay midfielder suffered a serious injury at the 2026 World Cup. If more players were sold, Man Utd could have had more space to address the left-back position.
After two summers, Man Utd is clearly stronger in attack and midfield. The "Red Devils" have spent more than 360 million pounds (486 million USD) on these two areas and are aiming for a more balanced squad.
But it is the phased approach to reconstruction that makes the remaining problems more visible.
By the summer of 2027, Man Utd may have to address many positions in defense at the same time. Shaw's contract ends next summer. Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez are also due, although the club has the option to extend for another year. Matthijs de Ligt is on a long-term break after back surgery. Meanwhile, Dalot and Mazraoui are not top players.
It cannot be ruled out that the club will have to buy two center backs and two full-backs in one transfer window.
That is the hidden price of the "rolling" strategy. Tackling each area one area at a time helps control budgets and avoid hasty deals, but it also means a weak position may have to wait another year.
With Man Utd, the answer will come very quickly. If Shaw is healthy, Mazraoui and Dalot are capable of supporting, and Amass matures quickly, this decision can be considered a wise move.
But if Shaw re-injures himself or has to work too hard, Carrick will immediately face the question that Man Utd tried to avoid all summer. In the end, it is the results on the field, not the calculations on the transfer table, that will decide whether the "Red Devils" are right or wrong.
