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31 August 2026

Manchester United were absolutely ruthless in attack against Ipswich Town.

Bruno Fernandes produced a statement display to show he is firmly in the race for another PFA Players’ Player of the Year award. The United skipper scored a hat-trick and also provided a superb assist in his team’s emphatic victory.

This was the first time United had scored five goals in a Premier League match since August 2021 against Leeds United.

Even so, the Red Devils still let in two goals against the newly promoted side, and had it not been for Senne Lammens’ heroics, the Tractor Boys might have scored even more.

Notably, both of Ipswich’s goals came down the left side of the defence, once again highlighting that this area could become Michael Carrick’s biggest problem if it is not sorted out.

According to the Daily Mail, the message from inside Old Trafford is that Manchester United are willing to sign a left-back on deadline day if the right chance presents itself, although there is no certainty that a deal will be done.

Lewis Hall has reportedly been United’s main target for the position throughout the summer, but it would require an offer of more than £75 million for Newcastle United to even think about allowing the Englishman to leave.

That means INEOS are highly unlikely to launch such a costly move in the closing hours of the transfer window.

It is believed United have looked at alternatives apart from Hall, including Brighton’s Ferdi Kadioglu, Aston Villa’s Ian Maatsen and Racing Santander’s Jorge Salinas.

Everyone knows the sort of fee Brighton would demand for Kadioglu if United were to make a late approach in this window. At the same time, it has been widely reported that Villa want to hand Maatsen a new contract, which leaves Salinas as the only genuinely realistic option.

Despite being only 19, Jorge Salinas is already seen as an automatic starter at Racing Santander.

The Spain youth international, who was born in Santander, progressed through the ranks at his hometown club and enjoyed his breakthrough last season, playing a key part in helping his side secure promotion back to Spain’s top division.

The 5’11” defender is comfortable operating both at centre-back and at left-back. He also registered seven assists in Spain’s second tier.

What is more, Salinas has looked completely at ease in La Liga, completing the full 90 minutes in all three of Racing’s matches.

Salinas is assured on the ball, calm in the build-up phase, and capable of standing his ground in physical contests.

Given the way INEOS usually work, perhaps the biggest attraction with Salinas is the €16 million (£13.7m) release clause in his contract.

With that in mind, instead of depending on the ageing Luke Shaw and risking damage to Carrick’s project, the United decision-makers should contact Salinas’ agent, Jorge Mendes, and move quickly to complete a deal for a player with huge potential, much like last year’s deadline-day signing Senne Lammens, who ultimately turned out to be a transformative addition at the Theatre of Dreams.