Lewis Hall, a new midfielder and transfer plan – Manchester United questions answered

With United potentially set for a busy end to the window, we’re running Q&A sessions to give you the chance to ask the questions you want to be answered. Simply add your question here and our Senior Manchester United Correspondent, Tyrone Marshall, will get back to you.

Here are the answers to some of the latest questions:

Which current Manchester United player has the most to prove this season?

That’s a good question. Marcus Rashford feels like an obvious answer, but there are probably a few with something to prove or who need to back up impressive first seasons. I think all three forwards signed last summer fit into that category and can kick on.

It’s probably Rashford, but to be contrary, I’m going to go with Kobbie Mainoo. He had a superb second half of last season, but had a difficult World Cup experience and with more competition in midfield, he is going to feel like he has to nail down a place in the team.

What’s the plan for our No.6? We need a top box-to-box engine

I think that player has already arrived and it’s Andrey Santos. I’d be surprised if United signed an elite-level No.6 now at this stage of the window, the third midfield addition will be another in a similar price range.

United wanted technical midfielders this summer, with the mobility to get around the pitch. Santos fits that bill for me and I think he’s going to be a regular starter under Michael Carrick.

Was the way this summer’s transfer window has unfolded so far always part of United and INEOS’ plan? It seemed fairly clear that a significant overhaul of the midfield was expected this summer, yet here we are in mid-August and the only major business has been the £85m spent on Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans — both excellent signings, of course. Was this always roughly how the club expected the window to progress, or have things moved more slowly than they had hoped?

I think they have probably moved more slowly than they hoped. It was always the plan to take a breath after making that flurry of signings but I believe they thought they would be in a stronger position now.

I still think they will have a good end to the window and I think another two players will come in, a left-back and a midfielder, but it’s clear with a couple of weeks to go that they have work to do.

Is there a realistic possibility that the window could close without United making any further first-team signings? Cristian Orozco and Tynan Thompson have arrived, and there now appears to be interest in Louis Page, but none of them would be expected to make an immediate impact on the first team. Aside from the two midfielders and Karl Darlow as a back-up goalkeeper, that is essentially the extent of the senior reinforcement so far. It feels as though the patience of a large section of the United fanbase is beginning to wear very thin, so should supporters still expect more significant first-team business before the deadline?

I would be very surprised if this window ends with no more first-team signings. As I mentioned above, I actually think they will get a left-back and a central midfielder.

I’d be stunned if they don’t at least sign a left-back. I’ve heard that is the priority now and that is the area they are pushing on, so I think we’ll see some competition for Luke Shaw coming into the building.

Who is replace Bruno if the injured?

It’s been interesting to see Shea Lacey get a few games as a No.10 in pre-season and I think he will be considered a real option to step in for Fernandes next season. He looks a good player there and is a really creative player as well.

The other player I’d like to see there is Matheus Cunha. He will play on the left again but I think his best position is as a No.10 and he could do really well there.

It’s not just if Fernandes gets injured either. I think there will be games where he will need to be rested this season, so Michael Carrick needs an idea in his head about who to play there instead.

Is a move for Lewis Hall completely out of the question? I fully understand that Newcastle have made it clear he is not for sale, and that having already lost several key players, they would be extremely reluctant to allow another important player to leave — particularly to United. But similar things were said about Alexander Isak and Bruno Guimarães, and both ultimately managed to join the clubs they wanted to move to.

I think it’s very, very unlikely. I think it only changes if Hall really pushes to leave Newcastle and United make an exceptional offer, but neither of those feel likely at the moment.

If Hall handed in a transfer request and pushed for it, then I think United would have a look and try and make it happen. They would probably be willing to pay more for a player who makes it clear they want to move to Old Trafford.

But as I say, I’m not sure Hall will do that and it would be a shock to me if it happened now.

Luke Shaw did, remarkably, start all 38 Premier League matches last season, but I suspect very few people would confidently expect him to do the same again this season. With that in mind, a new left-back looks increasingly important, and Hall seems almost ideally suited to what United need. Is there genuinely no scenario in which United could test Newcastle’s resolve, particularly if the player himself were open to the move?

That last bit is the key here. Hall is open to the move but Newcastle have no need to sell and need to stop the exodus of first-team players.

United clearly need a left-back and they will sign one. Hall was the perfect age and has good Premier League experience for a 21-year-old. He looked the ideal successor to Shaw, but it’s difficult now.

There is always the possibility that they sign a lower-profile left-back this summer, then revisit Hall in 2027, when Shaw will be out of contract.