Manchester United reject £3.5m for full-back

Manchester United’s full-back crisis has been ongoing throughout this summer with the club tasked in ensuring that the squad is in the best possible shape for the season.

That crisis has primarily centred around the left-back position with Luke Shaw standing out as the squad’s primary weak spot.

Shaw’s weakness was on show yet again against Ipswich Town last Sunday with winger Abdul Fatawu easily pushing past the left-back as he delivered the assist for Ipswich’s opening goal, scored by Leif Davis.

The final stages of the summer transfer window looked at replacing the former England international in detail, with many options coming out.

Exciting young talent Jorge Salinas, who played a crucial role in Racing Santander’s promotion to LaLiga last season, had been tipped with a move to Old Trafford although that never developed.

Three-time LaLiga winner Alejandro Balde, on the other hand, was also linked with a move to United although the club considered him too expensive.

Looking at United’s pursuit of Lewis Hall, meanwhile, the club appear to be aiming for a move next summer.

Whilst much attention had been focused on bringing a left-back into the club, Harry Amass (who plays in the position) was linked with a move away.

That move was to Championship side Burnley, who have struggled to adapt to life in the English second tier following relegation from the Premier League, picking up just two points from four fixtures.

The Clarets current starting left-back, Connor Roberts, has made just eleven defensive contributions in four Championship games, with the club looking at Amass (who impressed whilst at Sheffield Wednesday last season) as a possible replacement.

Journalist Tyrone Marshall has now stated that, whilst Burnley were interested in a deal, they decided to walk away from the pursuit in the final days of the transfer window.

Marshall, reporting for Manchester Evening News, also said that Manchester United knocked back a £3.5m bid for the full-back although, should the bid had been higher, there was a deal to be done.

Amass’ contract with United runs out next summer, although the club have an option to extend that by one year which they are likely to do.

Revisiting the situation in January or next summer currently appears to be The Red Devils’ strategy, according to Marshall.

For Harry Amass, his short-term future appears to be at Manchester United. He has now an opportunity to break through into the first-team, and to possibly take Luke Shaw’s starting position as well.

The 19-year-old could also be in competition with Patrick Dorgu, though, considering Michael Carrick’s hint that Dorgu can also play in the position should he be required.

Whether Amass takes his opportunity remains unclear, although the chance to realm into the first-team once again is now there.

Should he take that chance, he could become United’s solution to their current left-back frailties. If he does not, however, he could be looking at an exit in the next two transfer windows.