Adding literal insult to injury, Manchester United may now be forced into the transfer market if Lisandro Martinez has suffered a serious knee injury in his side’s defeat to Crystal Palace.
Martinez was stretchered off in the second half and left the pitch with tears on his face, signalling that he could spend a considerable amount of time on the sidelines.
Unfortunately to Ruben Amorim and United, there is not another specialist left-sided centre-back in the squad, with Matthijs de Ligt brought on for the Argentine.
United have a host of options at the back, including Harry Maguire, Leny Yoro and Victor Lindelof, but none are as adept as Martinez at playing out from the left side of a back three.
That could push United into the transfer market yet again, having announced the additions of Patrick Dorgu and Ayden Heaven before kick-off at Old Trafford.
Even with Martinez available, the Red Devils’ backline struggled to contain visiting Palace and especially Jean-Philippe Mateta, who scored twice in a 2-0 upset.
Luke Shaw has returned to training and could deputize in that role, but Amorim admitted this week that he “needs time” to build up to match fitness and the England star’s injury record cannot be relied upon.
Noussair Mazraoui has spent time in the back three and his versatility could be utilised again by moving to left centre-back in Martinez’s absence, but Amorim would be taking another risk after adding another piece to his puzzle with the signing of Dorgu.
There are options on the market heading into Monday’s 11pm deadline, with Chelsea outcast Axel Disasi set to depart Stamford Bridge before the window closes.
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