Man Utd Have Already Signed Diego Leon Who Can Replace Luke Shaw

· GiveMeSport

Man United are under scrutiny for failing to sign a left-back in the summer transfer window

Manchester United have come under scrutiny from some quarters for their failure to sign a new left-back in the summer transfer window.

Man United chiefs focused on their central midfield rebuild instead, bringing in three new faces to boost Michael Carrick's squad following the exit of Casemiro, and the long-term injury suffered by Manuel Ugarte while playing for Uruguay at the 2026 World Cup.

When one of those midfielders, Carlos Baleba, is fit and available, four central midfielders will be battling for two spots in Carrick's midfield, while Mason Mount and Bruno Fernandes can also play there if needed.

Andrey Santos is the midfield addition struggling for minutes right now, and some are suggesting that the £50m spent on the Brazilian could have been used on a new left-back instead.

It was no secret that United ideally wanted to strengthen in that position given Shaw's previous fitness issues, and the fact that they consider Patrick Dorgu to be more of an attacking player.

The main links were with Newcastle United's Lewis Hall and Alejandro Balde of Barcelona, but neither player joined, and the former has now signed a new long-term deal to stay at St James' Park.

United's Left-Back Starters This Season:

Shaw actually started all 38 of the Red Devils' 38 Premier League matches last term, but he has already lost his perfect record this season after missing the games against Sabah, Manchester City and Brighton and Hove Albion with an issue, although he did return to the XI against Fulham last time out.

Meanwhile,19-year-old left-back Harry Amass seemed destined for an Old Trafford exit this summer after some impressive loan spells in the Football League, but he has stuck around and even made his Champions League debut for the club against Sabah.

One player who has been forgotten about among all the recent talk around left-backs is 19-year-old Diego Leon.

United reached an agreement to sign the 17-year-old talent in January 2025, but he didn't complete his move to Old Trafford until the summer of the same year.

The Red Devils paid Paraguayan side Cerro Porteno an initial £3.3m for the teenager, which could rise to as much as £7m in add-ons in the future.

Leon's Record for Cerro Porteno

- Appearances: 33 - Goals: 4 - Assists: 0

Leon certainly arrived with plenty of confidence and, despite an expectation that he would be sent out on loan, he claimed that he was going to 'kill it' in pre-season training and become part of the first-team group immediately.

> "When you’re a professional, you have to adapt quickly, it is a massive opportunity. > > Everyone thinks I’ll go out on loan, but I don’t have that mindset. > > "I’m going to kill it in pre-season and within one or two games, I’ll already be playing with them."

Leon is not alone in the confidence in his ability, with the president of his former club, Juan Jose Zapag, also a big believer in Leon's ability.

> He's a left-back like no other in the world, the kind that's rare to find.

Leon maybe didn't make as much of an impact as he expected to in Manchester, but he has been a regular for the club's Under-21 side, making 20 appearances to date.

Described as being 'lightning quick and fearless with the ball at his feet', Leon looks to have a bright future ahead of him and given his initial confidence after completing the move, he will be disappointed that he's yet to make his first-team breakthrough.

While there are always likely to be concerns when a full-back is good going forward and a goal threat, Leon backs this up with impressive defensive stats too, making 2.8 tackles per match, which is higher than Shaw's average (2.06) across 38 Premier League games last term.

Diego Leon for United U21s in 2025-26

What is clear is that with the investment made, as well as the fact he was being looked at by Arsenal and Manchester City, he has the ability and attributes to go on and be Shaw's long-term replacement at Old Trafford.

If he can start to impact Carrick's plans sooner rather than later, they may not even have to go out and spend big money on a left-back.

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