Michael Carrick has been left with a real headache to navigate at Manchester United post-World Cup if Ineos do not explore an immediate short-term ‘fix’ for him.
Lisandro Martinez picked up an injury in the dying stages of the World Cup tournament and it remains to be seen how long he will be sidelined.
The 28-year-old Argentine defender, who has been a key defensive option for Michael Carrick, was forced off the pitch in the first half of the final on Sunday.
Lisandro Martinez’s setback in Argentina’s 1-0 defeat to Spain could raise questions over whether Ineos need to shift their focus to a defensive transfer target now.
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If Ineos don’t act on a Lisandro Martinez replacement, Michael Carrick must look at Luke Shaw for an experienced pick
Michael Carrick faced defensive woes in the second half of the 2025-26 campaign during his interim reign amid the long-term absence of Matthijs de Ligt.
Lisandro Martinez had been Carrick’s preferred pick alongside Harry Maguire before the 2022 World Cup winner suffered a muscle injury to his calf back in February.
Carrick has been able to rely on the likes of Ayden Heaven and Leny Yoro when it has been needed for a potential centre-back pairing alongside Harry Maguire.
However, the 44-year-old Manchester United manager has not tried to use Luke Shaw as a makeshift centre-back when Martinez or Matthijs de Ligt are sidelined.
Carrick had reverted Luke Shaw back to his left-back role since his January arrival, but the 31-year-old United defender did play as a left-sided centre-back before.
Ruben Amorim had relied on Shaw for the centre-back role in his polarising Man Utd tactical system before the 41-year-old Portuguese coach was sacked last season.
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A Man Utd centre-back transfer option could be pulled forward by Ineos if Lisandro Martinez’s injury is serious
Ineos have been focused on a midfield rebuild this summer after Man Utd signed the likes of Andrey Santos from Chelsea and Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa.
The Red Devils are believed to want to sign another midfielder as part of the major overhaul of Carrick’s United first-team squad ahead of the new campaign.
However, Ineos might need to switch courses and look for a centre-back option due to the injury problems around both Man Utd defenders Matthijs de Ligt and Martinez.
De Ligt has not even featured under Carrick and played his last match under former United manager Ruben Amorim in 2025 before being sidelined with a back problem.
Shaw’s ability to play as a centre-back could easily act as a ‘Plan B’ solution in the event that Carrick needs a Martinez replacement for the short or long term.
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