Man Utd would love to sign Lewis Hall from Newcastle, but the deal has been unlikely since the start of the transfer window.
Manchester United have been linked to more players than usual in this transfer window. It’s nothing new for an agent to claim England’s biggest club is interested in their client to drum up interest but, of course, some of the players linked have been legitimate.
United now have a long shortlist of potential signings for each position, compiled by the data department, which has received significant investment over the last 18 months.
Michael Sansoni was lured from the Mercedes F1 team to join United as their director of data. Sansoni has overseen the transformation of the data department, which now plays an even greater role in recruitment.
The theory is that the data boffins can crunch numbers on players and provide depth to traditional scouting methods. The numbers should also help United to identify alternatives to targets they may miss out on.
Mateus Fernandes wasn’t far behind Elliot Anderson on key midfield metrics in the Premier League last season, so it wasn’t a surprise that United attempted to sign him from West Ham after missing out on Anderson.
Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans were identified as market opportunities once it became clear Tottenham would win the race for Fernandes, with the data department offering context at every turn.
It looks like United will have to put faith in their algorithms again to sign a left-back this summer. The pursuit of Lewis Hall was unlikely to be successful from the start of the window, given the other players Newcastle had earmarked to sell, and United may have to give up the chase.
Newcastle do not want to sell Hall, who has three years remaining on his contract at St. James’ Park. That stance could be tested with a large financial offer, perhaps around £70million, but that is a huge sum.
United turn to the longlist of targets compiled by the data department in such scenarios. Is there a suitable alternative out there? Could they be signed for a value fee? Those are the types of questions asked.
Jorge Salinas is an interesting name that has cropped up. The defender plays for Racing de Santander, who were crowned the La Liga 2 champions last season to secure promotion to the Spanish top flight.
The 19-year-old made 34 appearances in an impressive campaign for Racing, and he caught the eye of British scouts when he starred at the Under-19 European Championship, which was played in Wales earlier this summer.
United have decided to sign players from similar tournaments in the past. It was Sekou Kone’s performances at the Under-17 World Cup that convinced United, while a deal was submitted for Cristian Orozco after he helped Colombia reach the final of the U17 South American Championship.
The difference is that both of those players were signed for the academy, and Salinas has been tipped as a possible alternative to Hall, but he is further ahead in his career after already excelling at senior level.
Salinas is said to have a €16m (£13.7m) release clause at Racing, so he would be available for a fraction of what Hall would cost and would be a clear deputy to Luke Shaw, who has shown no signs of decline.
Shaw was excellent last season, starting all 38 Premier League games. The problem is that his body cannot cope with two games per week, although his performances indicate he does not need to be replaced outright.
Hall is seen as the perfect heir to Shaw, the dream long-term successor, but United would have two starting left-backs if they somehow agreed a deal with Newcastle, which could cause some friction.
Salinas would not expect the lion’s share of starts in comparison. There are plenty of minutes to go around, and he could stake a claim over time to be first choice, but Shaw would continue to be the No.1 in his position.
Barcelona have also been linked to Salinas, who seems destined for a big move. Maybe United should try to lure him to Old Trafford.
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