Two Manchester United players stop Michael Carrick from making the last signing on Deadline Day.
Two Manchester United players are getting in the way of Michael Carrick finishing some last-minute deals on deadline day, including forward Joshua Zirkzee.
Deadline day is usually exciting for fans as clubs try to make some big moves at the last minute, but for Man United, this summer has felt a bit disappointing. Even though around £150 million was spent on midfielders Youri Tielemans, Andrey Santos, and Carlos Baleba, Carrick still doesn’t have enough options at left-back.
Luke Shaw is the only natural senior left-back at the club, but his weaknesses have shown in the first weeks of the season. Many have been calling on INEOS to spend money on someone who can compete with or maybe even replace him.
Carrick’s top choice was Lewis Hall from Newcastle United, but Newcastle has said the 21-year-old isn’t for sale after losing some key players already. The Daily Mail says it would take a bid over £75 million for them to even think about letting Hall go.
They also looked into signing Alejandro Balde last month, even talking to his agents, but the Spaniard wants to stay and fight for a spot at Barcelona instead of moving to Old Trafford.
Other names like Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly, Brighton’s Ferdi Kaglioglu, Racing Santander’s Jorge Salinas, and Aston Villa’s Ian Maatsen have been linked with United, but none have come close to signing.
One problem for INEOS is raising enough money from player sales to spend more, unlike Chelsea, who have been very successful in selling players this summer. Man United have made about £47 million from selling Rasmus Hojlund, Radek Vitek, and Toby Collyer, while Chelsea have made £250 million, which helped them spend big.
Carrick doesn’t have the same freedom as Xabi Alonso did, but things might have been different if United could have sold Joshua Zirkzee and Marcus Rashford for good.
Zirkzee was close to leaving all summer. Just last week, Fiorentina talked with United about a loan with a €30 million buy option for him. But the move fell through because Zirkzee, 25, refused to join. BBC Sport’s Simon Stone said Zirkzee is now “more likely to stay” at Old Trafford as deadline day ends.
Selling Zirkzee—who hasn’t played in the first two Premier League games—could have given United some cash to spend in other areas.
Rashford also looks like he’ll stay after the club struggled to sell their top earner. The 28-year-old seemed set to join Barcelona after a good loan, but they turned down the chance to buy him for £26 million. Other clubs, including two from the Premier League, are interested, but his £350,000-a-week wage makes it hard to find a buyer.
In a sign of trust, Carrick gave Rashford the No.9 shirt, brought him on late in the game against Hull City, and started him in the 5-2 win over Ipswich Town on Sunday.
The academy graduate is expected to play an important role as United return to the Champions League, but fans might have preferred if he left to help bring in a new left-back.