P1: A delayed start for their new striker aside, the Old Trafford hierarchy would have been pleased with their work up to that point.
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P2: Further additions were still required, though, and multiple sources — who, like others in this piece, spoke on the condition of anonymity to protect their positions — had made it clear since the start of the summer that, beyond those pr
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P3: That stockpile of left-backs meant that United could absorb a lay-off for either of their leading pair, which was why there was no rush to find cover for Malacia when he was prevented from travelling on the club’s pre-season tour of the
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P3: There was also Alvaro Fernandez, the 20-year-old left-back who was named Preston North End’s young player of the year after an impressive loan spell with the Championship club last season.
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P4: The club learned of Shaw’s injury only hours after Williams’ loan to Ipswich had been completed.
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P4: The subsequent departures of Telles and Williams left them exposed but even then, United can count themselves unlucky in how their dash for an emergency left-back came about.
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P4: Some figures who have followed Fernandez’s development believed he would be worth trying given United’s circumstances but Ten Hag wanted a replacement with Premier League experience.
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P5: Chelsea were willing to entertain a loan move for Cucurella, as they had been with clubs across Europe all summer, with Atletico Madrid among those monitoring the 25-year-old.
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P5: United were unwilling to meet that figure but, after further talks, there was belief that a compromise could be struck before Chelsea’s Carabao Cup second-round tie against League Two side AFC Wimbledon on the Wednesday evening (August
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P6: No significant progress was made over the course of the day, however, so Cucurella started and played 90 minutes in a 2-1 victory for Chelsea.
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P6: That appearance complicated United’s pursuit of their priority target, not only making him cup-tied for future rounds of the Carabao Cup but also limiting him to playing for one other club this season.
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P7: That complication influenced United’s decision the following day to switch their focus to signing Tottenham’s Sergio Reguilon — a deal that was viewed as both cheaper and easier to do.
