Manchester United have some decisions to make in the full-back areas before the end of the transfer window.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Luke Shaw are first choice, and Kieran Trippier is expected to arrive before the end of the month.
Alex Telles is injured right now but offers experienced cover at left-back.
The futures of both Brandon Williams and Diogo Dalot are both up in the air. And they’re both ahead of academy graduate Ethan Laird in the pecking order.
Laird a wanted man
Laird spent the second half of last season on loan with MK Dons in League 1.
Russell Martin was his manager there and the former defender has just been appointed Swansea boss.
TeamTalk report that Martin wants Laird to be his first signing, taking him from United on another loan deal.
That would be a step up to the Championship for the full-back and United are apparently open to letting him leave for the season.
Loan is a logical choice
Leaving on loan is a straightforward decision for United and Laird. The defender needs to play football.
And the move would represent progress. After impressing in the third tier, he could step up to an even tougher division.
A loan leaves the door open for him to return to United and challenge for a place in future seasons.
If Trippier arrives, that route to the first team on either the right or left of the back four will become even more crowded.
But the only way he’s even going to give himself a chance is by playing games.
The fact that Martin knows him and has clearly been impressed would bode well for Laird’s chances of getting into Swansea’s first team.
Missed opportunity in pre-season
Laird has been injured since the end of last term and missed United’s pre-season programme.
That means he missed the chance to impress Ole Gunnar Solskjaer while the likes of Shaw have been away.
Other academy graduates have had their chance to shine, but Laird wasn’t so fortunate.
That further diminishes his chances of a breakthrough this season and leaving to join Swansea on loan looks essential now.
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