Manchester United transfer news: The Red Devils enter the international break 18th in the Premier League, and Sunday’s chaotic 4-4 draw at home to Aston Villa showed why. Michael Carrick’s side conceded twice inside four minutes, trailed 4-2 and needed stoppage-time goals from Joshua Zirkzee and Patrick Dorgu to rescue a point, five days after a 3-2 Champions League comeback against Roma. Villa scored four at Old Trafford for the first time since 1930, while United’s defence allowed 2.88 expected goals and five big chances.

Carrick has won three of his opening 15 games this season in all competitions, and none of the last eight in the league. That run, one league win from 10, leaves his future under scrutiny, even though supporters chanted his name at the final whistle.

The weakest spot sits on the left of defence. Luke Shaw has been absent since the 1-1 draw with Tottenham on 10 October with an undisclosed muscle injury, has not resumed full training and is out of contract next summer. Diogo Dalot, a natural right-back, has covered for much of that spell, and Dorgu has had fitness problems of his own. INEOS pursued Newcastle’s Lewis Hall in the summer but did not sign a left-back for Carrick.

That backdrop explains a TuttoJuve report, repeated by the BBC’s gossip column, that United are ready to rival Barcelona and Liverpool for Juventus full-back Andrea Cambiaso. It describes interest, not a bid. The outlet values the Italy international at about £22m (€25m), below the £69million (€80m) Juventus reportedly wanted when Manchester City were linked in 2025.

What Cambiaso offers

The 26-year-old is left-footed and plays left-back, right-back or either wing-back. He has eight goals and 19 assists in 142 Juventus appearances, and last season’s FotMob data placed him in the 91st percentile among full-backs for chances created, but only the fifth for aerial duels and fourth for defensive contributions.

Manchester United transfer news: Should Manchester United pursue Cambiaso in January?

Yes, near £22m, but not as a cure for the defence. He offers a successor to Shaw, one of the club’s highest earners, and his chance creation suits a side that created 3.55 expected goals against Villa. The problem sits behind him. Villa targeted United’s left-back channel, and Cambiaso’s numbers describe a full-back who attacks first.

United need a centre-back and a midfield screen more urgently. If Juventus ask for more, United should let Barcelona overpay. Buying only a full-back while this defence keeps conceding inside four minutes fixes the wrong problem.