Manchester United's hopes of strengthening their left-back options before Tuesday's transfer deadline appear to be tied directly to the departure of striker Joshua Zirkzee, according to reports from Sky Sports.
The Red Devils currently have only Luke Shaw as a fit, recognised senior option at left-back, leaving manager Michael Carrick short of cover in that area of the pitch. Patrick Dorgu, who might once have been considered a natural deputy, has been deployed in a more advanced role by Carrick throughout the campaign and has not featured as a left-back at all this season.
According to earlier reporting from the Daily Mail, United had drawn up contingency plans in case they were unable to bring in a new left-back before the window closes. Those options reportedly include using Lisandro Martinez or newly signed midfielder Carlos Baleba in makeshift roles at left-back, or shifting Noussair Mazraoui and Diogo Dalot—both known for their versatility—into cover positions behind Shaw. A further possibility floated was retaining academy graduate Harry Amass, even though he has not been part of the first-team setup and has been in discussions with Burnley over a potential switch.
However, the latest information suggests the more direct route to strengthening the position depends on Zirkzee's future. The Dutch forward has slipped down the pecking order at Old Trafford, with Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo all currently favoured over him as options in Carrick's preferred 4-2-3-1 system, which utilises only one central striker.
Zirkzee's situation has attracted interest from Italy, with both Juventus and Fiorentina having explored the possibility of bringing him back to Serie A, where he previously played for Bologna. Juventus had progressed talks over a loan deal before shifting their focus to Newcastle United striker Nick Woltemade, who has since travelled to Turin to undergo a medical examination ahead of a possible move.
Fiorentina had also been credited with interest in Zirkzee, but the Serie A club has since agreed to sign forward Beto from Everton. The Toffees, in turn, are looking to bring in former Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun from Monaco as a replacement, according to reports.
Should Zirkzee depart Old Trafford—whether via loan or a permanent transfer—before the deadline passes, it would free up financial space within United's wage structure, potentially allowing the club to pursue a new left-back signing. Time, though, is against them, and the situation could become complicated if none of the interested Italian clubs move quickly enough to finalise a deal for the striker.
United have already been linked with several left-back targets as they continue to explore options in the market. Names mentioned in connection with a possible move include Newcastle's Lewis Hall, Barcelona's Alejandro Balde and Aston Villa's Ian Maatsen, though no concrete progress has been reported on any of those fronts.
With the transfer window closing on Tuesday, United face a tight turnaround to both offload Zirkzee and secure a left-back arrival, leaving Carrick's defensive options for the remainder of the season hanging in the balance until the deadline itself.
Based on reporting from Standard Football.