Bryan Robson believes Manchester United should pursue a deal for Lewis Hall after the club confirmed the signing of midfielder Carlos Baleba. Baleba became United's fourth signing of the summer window, joining for a guaranteed £65million from Premier League rivals Brighton.
Midfield depth added
The 22-year-old adds further depth to Carrick's central midfield following the signings of Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos earlier in the summer. Despite those incomings, United still lack depth in other areas of their squad, an issue that came to the fore in their 2-0 loss to Hull City on the opening day of the new season.
Luke Shaw, who started every league match for United last season, was at fault for Hull's second goal and remains the club's only senior left-back. With United back in the Champions League, there are concerns as to whether the 31-year-old's body can cope with the increased fixture load given his chequered injury history.
Left-back options considered
United have been linked with a move for Hall throughout the summer, with Alejandro Balde and Jorge Salinas other options said to be under consideration. But former Red Devils midfielder Robson wants to see United prioritise a move for the Newcastle left-back, who is believed to be valued in and around £60m.
'If you stay in the Cup competitions and you've got the Champions League, you've got a lot of games in the season, and so you more or less always have to have two players who are decent in the same position,' he told talkSPORT.
'Luke Shaw is a terrific player, but Hall would be a good addition to our squad.
'But you never know with his [financial] fair play and everything whether you've got the money to buy somebody like him when you've just spent £70 million [on Baleba].
'We've spent money before that, so it's a balancing act in where you think it's most important.'
Top-four hopes
Elsewhere, Robson is confident that United will be back in top-four contention again this season, but is adamant that defending champions Arsenal remain the 'team to beat'.
'I think we're not far off [Man City],' he added. 'Especially with them losing the manager, yeah, they've brought a few decent players, but they've weakened the squad as well with some of their top players having left this summer.
'So I can see the top four being more or less the same as last year.
'Arsenal are looking really strong, made some great signings in the summer to go with what they've got. Arsenal are going to be the ones to beat.
'I think then City will be in there, Liverpool, ourselves, but Chelsea got off to a great start as well, and it's a fantastic signing, Rogers.
'I'm gobsmacked that they got him because I think he's a terrific player.'
