Manchester United are expected to explore a move for a new left-back once they have completed their signing of Carlos Baleba, according to the Manchester Evening News. Final touches remain on the Baleba deal, but attention can then turn elsewhere.
Luke Shaw remains United's first choice in the position, but the extra demands of Champions League football could create a desire for someone who offers immediate competition and the quality to succeed the England international in the long term.
Next move after Baleba
Lewis Hall and Jorge Salinas have both emerged as potential targets, while reports in Spain have also pointed to interest in Barcelona's Alejandro Balde. However, unless Newcastle can be convinced to change their hard stance on Hall, United might have to wait for the former Chelsea star.
Baleba looks set to join Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans among United's midfield options, and the Cameroonian might not be the last new addition. There is still more than a week to get deals done, leaving time for plenty of movement.
Arteta sends Lewis-Skelly message
Mikel Arteta said Myles Lewis-Skelly will "100 per cent" still be an Arsenal player when the transfer window shuts. The comments appear to draw a line under any hopes of a United or Chelsea move for the 19-year-old.
"The players that have been raised in our system, and they feel generally that love and that connection with the club, bring something else, there's no question about that," the manager added. "We need to look after them in a really special way because they bring value that is very difficult to find. That's why, when we can, we want to protect those assets as much as possible, develop them and make them extremely important for the club."
