Should Manchester United Be In The Market For A New Right Back?

It was clear that while Ole Gunnar Soslkjaer was steering the ship at Manchester United, Aaron Wan-Bissaka was the undisputed first choice right back for the club.

Signed for £50 million from Crystal Palace in 2019, Wan-Bissaka began his career at Manchester United with good grace. Nicknamed ‘The Spider’ for his long legs and ability to win the ball in a sliding duel from anywhere on the pitch, the Englishman’s defensive abilities were clear to see.

In that debut season at Old Trafford, Wan-Bissaka made 35 appearances in the Premier
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League, just three shy from completing a full league campaign for the Red Devils, totalling over 3,000 minutes all together.

Since Ralf Rangnick has come to the helm at Old Trafford just before Christmas, he has chopped and changed both full backs to see who rises to the top. Diogo Dalot has come in and done well but is not as strong defensively as the Englishman. 

However, one of Wan-Bissaka’s shortcomings is his inability to look comfortable on the ball and be a danger in the final third to opposition defences. At too many times does he look backwards and opt for the safe pass rather than taking his opposite man on.

Rangnick is clearly still not sold on a first choice right back with Wan-Bissaka back in the side for the Premier League matches, while Dalot has been used against Atletico Madrid in the first leg of the Round of 16 in the Champions League.

It is fair to say that fans share the manager’s sentiment. At times, Dalot can look a proper player and a suitable option for Manchester United, but on the other he appears cumbersome in his defensive approach. Wan-Bissaka, on the contrary, is not a threat going forward but can, more often than not, handle himself defensively.

And so, the reports linking Manchester United to right backs across Europe makes logical sense. From Nelson Semedo to Max Aarons, the Red Devils will be looking at all corners of the globe who can work in perfect harmony between defence and attack.

Manchester United will be busy throughout all of the summer transfer window due to positional needs of midfield and in attack, but a right back should be high up on the list with serious thought given to offloading one of Dalot or Wan-Bissaka.