If this is the answer for Manchester United, then what on earth is the question?
How can we find a more injury-hit left-back than Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia? The former ruled out for a further six weeks and the latter seemingly nowhere near a return to first-team duties.
If that is indeed the question Manchester United are looking to answer, then Ben Chilwell fits the bill.
But if the Red Devils want a left-back capable of staying clear of the treatment table and playing week-in, week-out then those links with Chelsea’s £50 million England international feel about as baffling as they come.
Yet, those rumours persist.
The Daily Mail were the first to make the claims, back in July and shortly before Friday’s hero Joshua Zirkzee became the first signing of the Ineos era.
Man United’s pursuit of a left-back had put Chilwell in their sights.
But having missed well over 100 games for club and country since he joined Chelsea from Leicester City back in 2020, it is difficult to see any reason why Erik ten Hag’s side would even consider Chilwell for a second.
Especially given why they are in the market for lefties in the first place.
Manchester United eye Chelsea’s Ben Chilwell
It is illness – rather than injury – which could keep Chilwell out of Chelsea’s Premier League opener against Manchester City on Sunday.
But Enzo Maresca – the new head coach at Stamford Bridge – admits that the 27-year-old is free to leave with a place in his new-look system hard to find.
“It’s quite clear, I love the way he is. But the problem is that he struggles with us a little bit to find his best position,” Maresca says, via The Athletic.
“This morning (Friday), we had 22 players training. And if you ask all of them, they will say they want to play against City on Sunday. But that is impossible. When you train every day and do not get any minutes it is not good for them or for me.
“I need to make a decision and probably it is better (for Chilwell) to leave and go and get minutes. The transfer window is open so we’ll see what happens.”
Chilwell started only nine league games last season. In fact, he has not started more than 20 since the 2020/21 campaign.
Noussair Mazraoui and Joshua Zirkzee shine vs Fulham
Man United, meanwhile, left it late to beat Fulham as Zirkzee rose from the bench to convert an assist from fellow substitute Alejandro Garnacho in the 87th minute.
Diogo Dalot started on the left-hand side, with new recruit Noussair Mazraoui proving to be an immediate hit on the right.
Ten Hag has played down concerns that Shaw could be set for another extended spell on the sidelines, though the performances of Dalot and Mazraoui against Fulham may have calmed those fears anyway with the 29-year-old’s absence not felt particularly keenly.
“(Mazraoui) did the basics well,” Roy Keane told Sky Sports at full-time (16 August, 10.30pm). “He looks like a decent athlete. He will be pleased. You go to a club and to get a victory and a clean sheet.
“He will be delighted.”
Mazraoui played 80 minutes before being replaced late on, ex-Ajax and Bayern team-mate Matthijs de Ligt coming off the bench for his own United bow.
“I know Noussair Mazraoui like this. He is a great defender, but he is very composed on the ball,” Ten Hag says. “He is not in full condition. When he gets 100 per cent fitness, he can do much more.
“He has to build his fitness.”
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