Man Utd tipped to sign €70m Hall alternative who is already better than Shaw

Analysis

Suraj Radia | Editor

Manchester United could be in the play to sign one of the standout left-backs in the Premier League this season after seeing a move for their ideal target in Lewis Hall go cold.

Hall is United’s top target to succeed Luke Shaw at left-back but Newcastle have been adamant that they will not cash in on the 22-year-old and he is set to sign a new five-year contract without a release clause at St James’ Park.

Although United may still try for Hall next summer, they will continue to scout other options and reporter David Ornstein believes Bournemouth’s Adrien Truffert could emerge as a target for many clubs, including the Red Devils.

Current ETV

Adrien Truffert

D (L)

B'mouth

Adrien Truffert

D (L)

B'mouth

€24.5M

ETV Range

€22.1M - €27M

View full profile

“Not many clubs recruited in that left-back position, which means there’s going to be a need on the horizon,” Ornstein told The Athletic FC Podcast. “Truffert has a really good age profile. He’s the sort of player that you could see moving.

“Manchester United were one team that we talked about with left-backs over the window, and there will be more. It is going to be an interesting one.

“I’m hearing a value of around £60 million and that there’s potentially a deal to be done next summer. I could see him being capable of playing for one of the biggest clubs.”

Adrien Truffert: Man Utd’s younger and better successor to Luke Shaw

Truffert joined Bournemouth last summer for €13.5m and the 24-year-old played every Premier League game last season, missing just 40 minutes of action, while he has also started this season impressively too.

United have been searching for a long-term successor to Luke Shaw, who is out of contract at the end of the season, and they are wary of the 31-year-old’s injury history despite him also playing every match of the league campaign last year for the first time in his career.

Although Truffert is not as accomplished going forward as the likes of Hall, data from analytics firm SciSports sees the Frenchman as superior overall to Shaw, with a belief that he will also improve in the future.

Despite considering moves for the likes of Alejandro Balde, Joaquin Seys and Jorge Salinas, United opted against signing a left-back this summer in the hopes that they could commit to a big money move for Hall next year.

However, with Hall likely to prove unattainable, Truffert could be a more affordable option, even if Bournemouth’s current asking price is £60m (€70m.)

Ultimately United cannot continue to rely on Shaw as their only natural left-back and, should Truffert become available next year, there will not be many Premier League-ready players more suited to being his replacement, putting Michael Carrick’s side at the forefront of any race.