Manchester United set to extend contract of left-back

Manchester United have had plenty of uncertainty at left-back during the opening weeks of the new season.

Luke Shaw remains the club’s most experienced option in the position, but his injury history has made dependable cover increasingly important.

Patrick Dorgu had emerged as the main alternative, giving Michael Carrick another option who can operate both defensively and further forward.

That depth was tested again when Dorgu was forced off while on international duty with Denmark after appearing to suffer a hamstring injury.

Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui can both move across from the right, although neither is a natural left-back.

With United already having concerns over their options in the position, the situation could now give one academy graduate an opportunity to change his standing at Old Trafford.

Manchester United set to extend contract of left-back

Manchester United are set to trigger a 12-month extension in Harry Amass’ contract before the January transfer window, according to the Manchester Evening News.

The decision would take the 19-year-old’s current deal from June 2027 through to June 2028, giving United greater protection over one of their academy products.

The move represents a change in circumstances for Harry Amass, who looked increasingly likely to leave the club during the summer.

Burnley were reported to have made a £3.5 million offer for the defender, while United were also open to the possibility of a loan move.

The Clarets’ approach was rejected, and United ultimately kept Amass despite questions over how much senior football he would receive.

That was not the first time United had sent Amass away to gain experience.

Born in London, he began his youth career at Watford before joining United in 2023, quickly establishing himself within the academy and earning opportunities around the first team.

He was involved with the Under-18s and Under-21s before making his senior debut on his 18th birthday against Leicester City in March 2025.

Amass then spent the first half of the 2025/26 season with Sheffield Wednesday, where he became a regular despite the club’s difficult season.

He made 21 Championship appearances, scored once and earned consecutive Player of the Month awards for November and December.

His performances were enough to attract further Championship interest when his temporary spell ended, with Norwich City eventually taking him for the remainder of the season.

His time at Norwich, however, lasted only one appearance.

Harry Amass came off the bench against Coventry City in January before suffering an injury in training which brought his season to an early end.

That meant his development was interrupted just as he had begun building regular senior experience away from Old Trafford.

Amass returned to Manchester for pre-season and impressed enough to remain around Carrick’s first-team setup, despite the club considering his future.

He featured in pre-season against Rosenborg and Atletico Madrid, before starting the Under-21s’ 5-0 victory over Ipswich Town in August.

He subsequently played 90 minutes in the 3-2 win over Brentford B in September, while his only competitive first-team appearance so far this season came against Sabah in the Champions League, when he replaced Dorgu for the final 18 minutes.

That Champions League cameo is currently his only senior appearance of the campaign, despite being included in United’s Champions League squad.

The timing of the contract decision is therefore significant.

United’s reported plan is not necessarily a commitment that Amass will become Shaw’s long-term successor immediately.

Triggering the extension instead gives the club more time to assess his development while protecting his value.

There is also a clear practical reason for keeping him around for now.

Dorgu’s injury has added another question mark to a position where United were already short on natural options, while Mazraoui has also had injury concerns.

Amass could therefore become more relevant to Carrick’s plans if the defensive situation worsens.