Manchester United hold talks over shock move for Premier League full-back

Manchester United are looking at a number of deals this summer, but even as they cast their net wide, a move for Brighton’s Pervis Estupinan appears to have come out of left field.

The Red Devils only made one major signing in the January transfer window, which saw left-back Patrick Dorgu arrive from Lecce.

While they are looking to sell Tyrell Malacia this summer and Luke Shaw always has fitness doubts hanging over him, left-back was not thought to be an area of focus in the transfer market.

However, talkSPORT report that Manchester United are not only interested in Estupinan but have held talks with the player’s representatives over a possible deal.

The 27-year-old has been at Brighton since signing from Villarreal in 2022, playing 104 times for the Seagulls in all competitions and scoring five goals.

The Ecuador international is an attacking threat from left-back, with nine assists to his name in 84 Premier League appearances.

The report states that AC Milan are also interested in the Ecuadorian and Brighton could listen to offers as they have signed Maxim De Cuyper in the same position this summer.

Estupinan has two years left on his contract at the Amex, still on the five-year deal he signed in 2022.

Red Devils icon likes the look of Estupinan

Former Manchester United striker Dwight Yorke actually suggested the Red Devils make this very move earlier this year.

Yorke named two players that would be good additions to Ruben Amorim’s squad, the first being Eberchi Eze and the second being the Ecuadorian.

‘The second player would be Pervis Estupinan from Brighton,’ Yorke told FastSlots, having already touted Eze as a good signing.

‘He is a great athlete and gets up and down the pitch, he really understands the position and is so mobile.

‘He’s a versatile player and I think United need that energy down the left. Luke Shaw is not the player he used to be with all his injuries and it’s time to move on, United are struggling and maybe it’s down to not moving players on when they should’ve done.’

Shaw has been a fading force

Shaw is still only 30 years old but has struggled badly with injuries over his career and the last two seasons have been badly hampered by fitness issues.

He made just 12 appearances in all competitions over the last campaign and 15 in the 2023-24 season.

The England international did play the whole Europa League final at the end of last season as one of the three centre-backs, with Dorgu at left wing-back, but then missed the final game of the Premier League campaign as he was ‘managing a foot problem.’

Shaw is still under contract at Old Trafford until 2027, having signed a new deal in 2023.