Man Utd's major transfer blunder could cost them Champions League football

James Shearman

• Updated: 22 Feb 2024 21:07 GMT
• 3 min read

Manchester United made a mistake in the January transfer window that could cost them Champions League football.

United decided to terminate left-back Sergio Reguilon's loan deal last month despite Tyrell Malacia's injury.

The Red Devils foolishly thought that they would be fine with having Luke Shaw as their only available left-back.

Well, Shaw has suffered an injury that will keep him on the sidelines for the foreseeable future.

"Luke Shaw will be out for the next months; the expectation is to see him back for the final games of the season," Fabrizio Romano said on his YouTube channel.

Manager Erik ten Hag has now been left without a natural left-sided defender - a situation that could so easily have been avoided.

Victor Lindelof, a right-footed centre-back, appears to be the most likely candidate to replace Shaw in the side.

This will provide an obvious weakness to United's backline that could see them drop points in the latter stages of the season, impacting their chances of qualifying for the Champions League.

Fabrizio Romano on Man Utd's decision

Romano detailed the key reason Man Utd wanted Reguilon last summer, as well as why they chose to show him the exit door in January.

"[Man Utd] decided to go for Reguilon because Tottenham accepted putting a break clause into the loan deal, and they only wanted Reguilon for six months," said Romano.

"They thought that Shaw and Tyrell Malacia would be ready in January and so they wouldn't need Reguilon anymore.

"Then, in January, Man Utd decided to activate the break clause despite Shaw and Malacia not being 100 percent fit.

"For Man Utd, it's a regret because they had the opportunity to continue with Reguilon and now they don't have a fit left-back in their squad.

"This is one of the things that INEOS want to avoid in the future. These kind of things have to change."