Man Utd could find another way for Shaw by signing “one of the best LBs” out there

Manchester United's 2023/24 campaign has been something of a mixed bag of results for the Red Devils. Despite winning the cup, they struggled in the league and Champions League and it almost cost Erik ten Hag his job.

However, after much deliberation, United's board decided to keep him at the club, as reported by David Ornstein.

In the Premier League, the Red Devils finished 8th in the table, with 60 points, although they were outside the top four, eight points behind Aston Villa to be exact.

However, according to Understat's expected points table, they did very well. The Understat metric had them 14th in just 44xPTS.

In the Champions League, United did not come back well, exiting the group stage and scoring more goals than a Premier League team in one group stage of the competition, according to Opta Joe. Their defense of the Carabao Cup also ended in the fourth round, due to defeat at Old Trafford against Newcastle United, the team they beat in the final last season.

However, they won the FA Cup, beating Manchester City 2-1 in the final, thanks to goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo. It was the second trophy in as many seasons for Ten Hag.

Now, as the new season approaches, rumors have begun to intensify linking United with a number of potential players to improve their squad, including one player United are thought to have a long-term interest in.

Man Utd are heading to the Premier League at left back

The player in question here is Fulham and United States' Antonee Robinson. The 26-year-old was impressive for Fulham last season, and it has led to new links with some of Europe's biggest clubs.

According to a report by Will Lancaster and Dean Jones of GiveMeSport, the American player is still 'interested' in the Red Devils, as they look to strengthen the left back. This follows injury-riddled seasons for United's left-backs; Tyrell Malacia, who hasn't played a minute, and Luke Shaw.

However, United are not the only club interested in signing Robinson this summer. Rivals Liverpool are in the market for a new left-back, with the United States one option, while London club Chelsea are thought to be interested, as they start life under Enzo Maresca.

The report claims that Fulham are using Ian Maatsen from Chelsea to Aston Villa as a guide when it comes to the money for their left-back. The Dutchman is moving to Villa Park for an estimated £37.5m. The Cottagers are expected to ask for around £40m to sell Robinson this summer.

Why Robinson would be a good signing

The 26-year-old American has been a mainstay for Fulham this season in the Premier League. He played 37 times in the Premier League, playing 90 minutes in 32 of those games, missing one game with a minor hamstring injury.

He also registered six assists for Fulham, the most of his career in a single league campaign. That number for Fulham was bested only by Andreas Pereira, who scored seven goals, according to SofaScore. As football analyst Ben Mattinson said, Robinson is “one of the best LB's” currently signed by a major league.

He was very close to moving to one of Europe's biggest clubs, AC Milan. The Italian giants were keen to sign Robinson back in 2020, during the January transfer window. The fee agreed with his club at the time, Wigan Athletic, was £6m, although it could rise to £10m. However, the deal fell through after Robinson was diagnosed with an irregular heart rhythm, which was discovered during an examination.

One of the highlights of this 26-year-old player's game is his defensive skills. Not only is he one of the best players in the Premier League, but he is also the best defender compared to other players in the big five leagues in Europe. He reads the game incredibly well and doesn't back down from challenges, it shows in his stats.

If United were to sign Robinson, they would be bringing in a direct alternative to Shaw. Sadly, the 28-year-old missed 34 games with two separate injuries last season, hence his thinking behind signing a new left-back. Although the Fulham man is not as good technically as Shaw, he is more than capable of holding his own.

According to FBRef, Robinson averaged 3.55 passes per 90 minutes, compared to Shaw's 4.93 per 90 in the 2022/23 season. The Americans actually averaged more passes in the penalty box than Shaw did in the last two seasons, with 1.27 compared to the Englishman's 0.99 per 90. Their key passing stats are also close, with the Fulham man averaging 0.91 compared to Shaw's 1.20 in 2022/23.

Where Robinson excels over United's number 23 is when it comes to carrying forwards. He averaged 2.73 carries and 1.93 on 90 third downs. In comparison, Shaw averaged 1.87 per carry and 1.55 in the final third in the 2022/23 season. Robinson is a fantastic ball handler and uses his body to help ride balls and sharp bursts of speed to escape defenders.

In signing the American, United will be adding a different profile to Shaw to their squad. That is, he is a professional footballer and statistically one of the best defenders in Europe, while Shaw is intelligent and a good passer.

With that in mind, it's easy to see why Robinson would be a great addition to United's squad. For just £40m, he would be an excellent option for United, adding excellent depth and being able to rotate regularly with Shaw to ensure the England international doesn't burn too much, thereby increasing the risk of injury.

That's why the Hag ten must now turn around and sign the USMNT star, who is set to compete in the Copa America, before the end of the summer window.