Wes Brown has encouraged Manchester United to consider signing a left wing-back when the January transfer window opens for business.
Ruben Amorim has alternated between Diogo Dalot and Patrick Dorgu with varying degrees of success this season, with neither player fully convincing when deployed in the specialist role.
While Luke Shaw is available as another option at left wing-back, Amorim tends to prefer the England international as the left centre-back in a back three.
Though it may be too early to call it a ‘problem position’ at this stage, there have been some calls amongst the fanbase for the Red Devils to turn to the transfer market again to strengthen.
It was less than a year ago that United decided to part with £25million to capture Dorgu from Lecce – and there are hopes the 21-year-old Denmark international, Amorim’s first-ever signing, can live up to this price tag once he has more experience under his belt.
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But with the youngster still settling into a new environment and adapting to the rigours of Premier League football, Brown believes it would be beneficial for an extra body to be brought in this winter.
Asked which area he would prioritise in January, the former United and England defender told the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast: ‘Where would I like to get another player in? At the moment, Manuel Ugarte hasn’t played as well this season as you would have thought.
‘Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro, at the moment, are holding that. I mean, I would love to see Kobbie Mainoo more.
‘I know the manager says that Kobbie plays in the same position as Bruno…
‘But I’m probably going to have to go with… and I’m not sure if Luke Shaw can do it… a left wing-back.
‘But I reckon we’ll see Luke Shaw there in the upcoming games.’
According to Brown, there is an imbalance between United’s left and right flanks which needs to be addressed.
‘You want to have that [energy] at wing-back,’ the five-time Premier League winner added.
‘Amad Diallo can do it. He’s going to lose a few at the back-post, I suppose, every now and again, but you can see the difference in age.
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‘I just feel with Manchester United at the moment, a lot of our good possession and where we’re strong is on the right-hand side.
‘Our left probably isn’t as strong and it would be nice to see that so United can both ways.
‘Everybody knows Bryan Mbeumo and Amad, when they get on the ball, it’s dangerous. It’s not exactly the same on that left-hand side.’
United spent in the region of £200m in transfer fees to overhaul their misfiring frontline last summer, with Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko arriving through the doors at the Theatre of Dreams.
Brown has been mightily impressed by Cunha and believes the Brazilian’s reputation has only grown throughout his recent absence.
‘Cunha is probably a little bit different to a main striker. Sesko is still young and he’s still learning his way, finding his feet,’ Brown said of United’s attacking options.
‘When Cunha hasn’t played, we’ve struggled a little bit to keep the ball, hold it.
‘We talk about [signing] strikers but who? Who are you getting that will get 25 goals a year? It’s tough.’
Not so long ago, Mainoo was considered United’s great hope for the future after breaking out of the academy ranks to establish himself as a genuine first-team star.
However, Mainoo is yet to make a single start in the Premier League this season and there is no sign of this changing any time soon with Amorim at the helm.
Brown has been saddened by Mainoo’s dramatic fall down the pecking order and fears the young England midfielder may have to leave should his situation fail to improve.
‘First of all, I hope they have chats about it [Mainoo’s current standing] because that doesn’t necessarily happen by the way,’ Brown said.
‘But if you’re thinking of game-time, Kobbie’s not had enough. I think he comes on for a couple of minutes every game.
‘I know he started one but for his age, where he is, even in the international squad, he needs to be playing. It’s as simple as that.
‘This season is massive for him because if he doesn’t play, you seriously have to think about moving on.
‘For me, being a local lad, it’s not a good thing.’
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