- Old Trafford are struggling with significant injury problems, particularly in defence
- American Robinson could replace Luke Shaw after two assists in two games
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Manchester United are reportedly eyeing Fulham’s Antonee Robinson as manager Erik ten Hag looks to strengthen his defence amid the injury crisis.
The Red Devils have spent more than £200million during a busy summer transfer window but have a number of players out for a while, forcing them to step up their interest in the American defender. The sun defeated.
Two weeks after signing for £52million in July, Frenchman Leny Yoro broke his left foot in a friendly against Arsenal, putting him out of action for three months.
Luke Shaw is also injured again and will miss at least one more game after sustaining a calf injury at the start of United’s pre-season.
Now the Old Trafford club are preparing to make another defensive signing as they look to replace the injury-prone Englishman with Robinson.
Manchester United are reportedly looking to sign high-performing Fulham defender Antonee Robinson
The Red Devils’ left back Luke Shaw is injured again and will miss at least one more match
Frenchman Leny Yoro broke his left foot during a friendly against Arsenal
The 27-year-old has enjoyed an impressive start to the season at Craven Cottage, with two assists in his first three games, including a superb pass for Adama Traore’s equaliser against Ipswich on Saturday.
Any move for Robinson would have to wait until January after the transfer window closed on Friday, and the defender is unlikely to come cheap.
Fulham value the American, who joined from Wigan in August 2020, at around £30m but are considering letting the star player go for that fee.
United’s interest comes after rivals Man City and Italian club AC Milan were reported to have set their sights on Robinson last year.
The Red Devils’ hectic transfer window continued until the final day of the transfer window, when they signed Manuel Ugarte from Paris Saint-Germain for a fee of £50.8 million.
The 23-year-old Uruguayan midfielder signed a contract until June 2029 with an option for a further year, but has not yet been registered in time to make his debut against Liverpool at Old Trafford this afternoon.
The arrival of Ugarte, confirmed just 90 minutes before the transfer deadline, takes United’s spending this transfer window past £200m, with them paying PSG an initial fee of £42.3m plus up to £8.5m in add-ons.
United sporting director Dan Ashworth welcomed the chant for the highly-rated defensive midfielder, who has averaged the second-highest number of tackles per 90 minutes in major European leagues since the start of the 2022-23 season.
Ashworth said: ‘Signing Manuel was another key target this summer.’
Erik ten Hag wants to provide defensive reinforcements in times of injury crisis
Manchester United suffered a late defeat to Brighton at the Amex Stadium last weekend
Joao Pedro scored in the fifth minute of injury time to give United a dying minute victory
With the transfer window now closed, United will be hoping their current defenders can build a rapport after Ten Hag’s side suffered a surprise last-minute defeat to Brighton last week.
Joao Pedro’s 95th-minute winner gave the Seagulls a deserved victory after Amad Diallo cancelled out Danny Welbeck’s opener.
In the opening game of the season, United wasted a number of good chances before finally beating Fulham thanks to a debut goal from Joshua Zirkzee.