United line up a Plan B in the left-back search
Manchester United are reportedly considering a move for Racing Santander full-back Jorge Salinas, who is their back-up option should they miss out on Lewis Hall. The Newcastle star is on the club's shortlist and the Magpies have already seen a number of their leading lights leave this summer.
Bruno Guimaraes is being pursued by Arsenal and could follow Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali out the door with the club into a period of transition. Eddie Howe has just called time on his five-year tenure and United are looking to seize on the uncertainty around the club by going after Hall, who has continued to blossom since moving to St James' Park from Chelsea.
Newcastle are in no hurry to cash in on Hall and would demand an offer in excess of £50million before they even considered letting the England international leave - which has left United having to look elsewhere.
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And Spanish newspaper SPORT claim that Santander’s Salinas has emerged as a target. The club hold a genuine interest in the 19-year-old, but if he does move on then his preference is thought to be a move to Barcelona. He played a key role last season as his boyhood team won promotion to La Liga.
As it stands the Red Devils are prepared to pay Salinas’ €16m (£13.7m) release clause, but it remains to be seen how willing the player himself is to make the move. Barcelona see Salinas as a replacement for Joao Cancelo, who is set to make the move to Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Hilal.
United have been keeping close tabs on Salinas and were impressed by his performances at this summer’s European Under-19 Championship, where Spain claimed the trophy.
Left-back remains a priority as United rebuild
United's first choice left-back is Luke Shaw and the ex-Southampton man has been an impressive and consistent performer, but fitness has been an issue throughout his career and the versatile defender is now 31.
Already this summer United have signed Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos with bolstering their midfield a priority for the Red Devils. They could yet add more quality in that area but left-back is also an area that had been cited as somewhere they could improve their squad.
The latest left-back discussion also follows previous United transfer coverage, including Manchester United transfer update on Lewis Hall and Alex Scott, the search for Lewis Hall and Antonee Robinson, and further reports on the club's left-back hunt in Michael Carrick’s fresh transfer demand and ongoing transfer rumours.
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