Flashscore sources: Man Utd face left-back dilemma but Carrick has total faith in Shaw

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/balde-alejandro/6c0CXHVM/"]Balde[/a] has been considered a late signing but wants to stay at [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/barcelona/SKbpVP5K/"]Barcelona[/a], leaving [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/manchester-united/ppjDR086/"]United[/a] to assess whether they should pursue another target before the September 1st deadline or show patience and move ahead this season with their existing options.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/salinas-jorge/hCp3VZOF/"]Jorge Salinas[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/raum-david/2XVqEh8k/"]David Raum[/a] remain among a shortlist of left-backs being considered, but sources say there is even a possibility United do not make a signing in the position.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.com/news/flashscore-sources-manchester-united-firm-on-price-limit-for-barcelona-s-alejandro-balde/dtLzT4P8/"]As revealed by Flashscore[/a], United were already cautious about a deal for Balde, and their admiration for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/hall-lewis/rJOyDa3N/"]Lewis Hall[/a] remains strong.[/p][p][b]They will only move for Balde now if the terms are tailored to a good-value deal, and the player signals he is ready to change his perspective.[/b][/p][p]Some within the club now feel it's better to wait on Hall rather than force a deal this summer for someone else. United could look to make a move for him further down the line, following a similar approach to the one they took with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/baleba-carlos/UwTdoLQl/"]Carlos Baleba[/a].[/p][embed guid="5fea88a6-3fc2-459e-ac46-e84f9ed6803c" url="https://x.com/FabrizioRomano/status/2092546263447146991" social-type="twitter" /][p]Baleba has now joined United from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/brighton/2XrRecc3/"]Brighton[/a] for a knockdown £70million after the midfielder had previously been valued at around £100m by his former club last year. [/p][p]United's short-term concern is simply having enough cover in defence to get through this season.[/p][p][b]Boss Michael Carrick has complete faith in [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/shaw-luke/88iLXV0O/"]Luke Shaw[/a] as his starting left-back and continues to view him as a valuable member of the squad.[/b][/p][p]Any new arrival in the position would initially be expected to support Shaw and provide competition and rotation rather than immediately replace him. United's longer-term preference is to find a player who can eventually succeed Shaw as their first-choice left-back.[/p][p]That has influenced the way they have approached the position this summer.[/p][p][b]United did not prioritise a major investment at left-back with their transfer budget, instead deciding that strengthening central midfield was a much more urgent requirement. That is why they moved first for three central midfielders and have ultimately been unwilling to pay [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/newcastle-utd/p6ahwuwJ/"]Newcastle[/a]'s asking price for Hall.[/b][/p][p]Carrick felt the need for additional bodies in midfield was greater, meaning the left-back position has remained an area where United have had to balance immediate squad requirements against their longer-term ambitions.[/p][image alt="Luke Shaw league career stats" id="4917e97a-adb5-49bd-a7c0-08d9f392e77e" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="9c96ae1a-2a85-4e29-a530-a65aba996bcb" original-width="2160" original-height="2700" /][p]A move for 19-year-old Salinas from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/racing-santander/nVpEwOrl/"]Racing Santander[/a] remains an ongoing possibility and is one United continue to consider as they assess options. Raum could represent a more trusted deal, with the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/rb-leipzig/KbS1suSm/"]RB Leipzig[/a] defender a name on the club's shortlist and a potentially attainable option before the deadline.[/p][p]The decision facing United is not simply whether to sign another left-back, but whether the right player is available at the right price. For now, the internal conversations continue.[/p][infobox id="f961102e-920a-4281-b5f2-f996852544cf" /]