Former Manchester United defender Paul Parker has urged the club to sign West Ham's El Hadji Malick Diouf to solve their left-back problem, rather than pursuing Barcelona's Alejandro Balde.
United have completed their midfield rebuild with Carlos Baleba set to join alongside Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans. However, the club remain eager to add another left-back before next week's transfer deadline.
Shaw fitness concerns
Luke Shaw started every Premier League match for United last season, but his injury record has raised concerns about his ability to stay fit with the club's return to the Champions League bringing a more demanding schedule. Shaw's fitness issues have been well-documented, and his performance in the opening-day defeat to Hull City was also scrutinised, as he was directly at fault for the Tigers' second goal.
United are keen on Lewis Hall, but Newcastle United have firmly closed the door on any move this summer. The club have held talks over a move for Barcelona's Alejandro Balde, with the left-back considering leaving the Camp Nou, and Racing Santander's Jorge Salinas is another option under consideration.
Parker's recommendation
Parker, who spent five years at United under Sir Alex Ferguson, fears Shaw's limitations mean United must do business in the next week, naming West Ham's Diouf as a ready-made option. The Senegal international is wanted by Brentford, but Parker has urged his old side to swoop in, believing a deal could be done for around £30 million.
'They can't put themselves in the position of being stuck with Shaw and having to rely on him because he can't do what the modern day left back does,' Parker told Metro, via GambleGuru UK. 'You want someone who wants to run rather than someone who is only going to run if he's going to get the ball.
'For £30 odd million, why don't United sign Diouf from West Ham? Great left foot, wonderful crosser without a doubt. He gets up and down he's quite content in defence, but if you get enough possession, he will get forward and he'll create goals.
'He isn't big money and you've got somebody who's already played in this league rather than go and bring somebody from Barcelona who hasn't, and you've got someone there who actually knows the league and will just adapt straight away. That makes sense, but I don't know if that fits the criteria of people at United and who they want to sign. He's got the quality to pull on the shirt, without a shadow of a doubt.'
