By Martin Graham
Michael Carrick has indicated that Manchester United may enter the market for a left-sided attacker this summer, despite the club having spent the last three transfer windows under Ruben Amorim moving on several wide players.
Over the decades, United’s most successful eras have often been shaped by influential flank players. Figures such as George Best, Ryan Giggs, David Beckham, and Cristiano Ronaldo are widely viewed among the club’s icons, while Steve Coppell, Gordon Hill, Willie Morgan, and Andrei Kanchelskis also left a strong imprint. Even Busby Babe Eddie Colman, not a traditional winger, earned the nickname “snake hips” for his sharp changes of direction at pace.
At the beginning of last season, United had five seasoned options out wide. Jadon Sancho, Antony, and Amad Diallo alone represented a combined outlay of £173m. Marcus Rashford progressed through the academy system, while Alejandro Garnacho arrived from Atletico Madrid at the age of 16 in 2020.
Since then, that group has been significantly reduced. Sancho is on loan at Aston Villa after a previous spell at Chelsea, who paid £5m to send him back to Old Trafford rather than complete a permanent move. With his contract expiring in the summer, a continuation appears unlikely. Antony joined Real Betis in a £21.65m transfer shortly after Garnacho moved to Chelsea for £40m.
Uncertainty over Rashford and internal solutions
Rashford, who favours operating from the left, spent the latter half of last term at Villa following a disagreement with Amorim before sealing a loan switch to Barcelona. The Spanish side holds a £26m purchase option, and discussions have begun, though no agreement has been reached. With two years remaining on a £325,000-per-week contract, further talks would be necessary.
That leaves Amad as Carrick’s only natural wide player, though Patrick Dorgu — signed from Lecce as a wing-back during Amorim’s tenure — has been deployed further forward. While it remains unclear who will oversee the team beyond this season, Carrick insists his choices are guided by the club’s long-term vision.
When asked directly whether strengthening on the left flank was under consideration, the 44-year-old stressed the importance of squad balance and adaptability. Pressed further, he conceded it was “quite possibly” an area to address, though he added it was not an immediate worry.
Carrick believes there are still attacking alternatives within the current group. Matheus Cunha has featured in a wide role and, according to the United boss, can be difficult to contain in one-on-one situations, even if the Brazilian prefers drifting into deeper or more central spaces.
Transfer links and midfield priorities
Younger players have also been involved. Gibraltar international James Scanlon was a regular for the Premier League 2 side before heading to League Two promotion hopefuls Swindon on loan. England Under-20 winger Shea Lacey made an impression in three substitute appearances for the senior team, although he favours the right side and has featured only once since his FA Cup red card against Brighton in January.
While many supporters accepted the exits of Sancho and Antony, opinions are divided over Garnacho’s departure, and Rashford’s time at his boyhood club appeared to have reached its conclusion. The situation on the left has exposed longstanding recruitment concerns, particularly as the club attempts to tighten spending and reduce overall costs.
United were willing to approve a £65m move for Antoine Semenyo in January, but the player chose Manchester City instead. Amorim had intended to allocate funds elsewhere, suggesting the club is targeting particular positions — with the left side of attack among them.
RB Leipzig’s 19-year-old Ivory Coast international Yan Diomande has been linked, with a potential fee around £70m. Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon has also been mentioned, although United’s level of interest remains uncertain.
Any attacking addition must be weighed against midfield needs. Casemiro is set to depart at the end of the campaign, and Manuel Ugarte has played only 27 minutes across three substitute outings under Carrick. With the transfer window yet to open, adjustments must wait, leaving Carrick to maximise the resources already at his disposal.