Revealed: Carrick wanted Man Utd to sign a different player before Baleba move

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Robin Bairner | Chief Editor

Michael Carrick pushed for Manchester United to sign a left-back before a deal was completed for midfielder Carlos Baleba, according to David Ornstein.

The Red Devils were keen to strengthen in both areas of the pitch this summer ahead of their first full season under Carrick’s stewardship.

However, while United acquired midfield trio Andrey Santos (from Chelsea), Youri Tielemans (from Aston Villa) and Baleba, the club missed out on landing a new left-back.

Ornstein, The Athletic’s Football Correspondent, understands Carrick prioritised a new full-back after Santos and Tielemans joined United in July.

That led to United developing an interest in Arsenal star Myles Lewis-Skelly, having realised they were unable to convince Newcastle United to sell Lewis Hall.

Ornstein says the 20-time league champions then decided to complete their midfield rebuild by signing Baleba from Brighton and Hove Albion in August.

“There was a point in the window when United had already signed two midfielders, Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans,” Ornstein told The Athletic FC Podcast.

“And we all thought, ‘Now they’re going to go for a third’ — they were linked with Roma’s Manu Kone and others.

“I heard Carrick’s focus was the left-back first, and that’s when (Myles) Lewis-Skelly came into the picture, after it was clear Lewis Hall couldn’t be attained.

“And then, suddenly, they pivoted back to the midfielder with Carlos Baleba. And then at the end it was, ‘Can we squeeze in a midfielder/left-back?’”

United want new left-back to succeed Shaw

United were linked with several other left-backs including Barcelona’s Alejandro Balde, Racing Santander’s Jorge Salinas and RB Leipzig’s David Raum.

They also made a late move to sign Rayan Ait-Nouri on a straight loan but withdrew their interest after Manchester City demanded an obligation-to-buy clause was included.

United are keen to sign a younger left-back to succeed England international Luke Shaw, who turned 31 in July and has just one year left on his contract.

Shaw joined United from Southampton for a reported €34.9million (£30m) in June 2014, becoming the most expensive teenager in world football at the time.

He has registered five goals and 31 assists in 328 appearances for United, winning three honours including the Europa League in 2016-17.

United are looking to return to winning ways when they entertain Brighton in the third round of the Carabao Cup at Old Trafford this evening.

They have won just one of their opening four Premier League games this season and were beaten 1-0 by ten-man Man City in Sunday’s derby.