A lot of moving parts are coming together at Man Utd, and Michael Carrick has made two clear decisions to speed up that process.
The first is largely out of his hands, so he’s just hammering home what everyone already thought would happen.
The second, however, is a huge marker of trust from Michael Carrick and could well decide how Man Utd’s season goes.
Here is the lowdown on a permanent new position for a Man Utd ace as plans for Marcus Rashford also take shape.
How much do you think Man Utd will spend in this window?
It can be revealed that £243m will already be leaving Old Trafford this summer…
Michael Carrick settles on Patrick Dorgu’s role
The outlook of Man Utd’s transfer window, and the plans following the same, largely depended on this one decision.
Bought as a wing-back, Patrick Dorgu played multiple positions, but seems to be loving life playing further forward, especially under Carrick.
BBC reports that Carrick is now settling on seeing Dorgu as an attacking player instead of a defensive one, which means the transfer plans will change.
If Dorgu settles in the Man Utd squad as a winger, then the LW spot paves the way for a new left-back to arrive this summer.
The timing lines up, with United’s links to attacking players dying down in recent days, and the likes of Lewis Hall and Marc Cucurella coming to the surface.
In fact, so convinced does Carrick seem to be about Dorgu’s attacking credentials that not even Rashford’s future taking shape is changing those plans.
Marcus Rashford’s future to be decided in three-week span
When the question of Man Utd’s left side comes, Rashford is the wild card option, especially after Barcelona have confirmed that they’ll leave him stranded.
What’s YOUR message to Marcus Rashford after Barcelona’s deal for Anthony Gordon?
Should Man Utd use this reality check to try and bring Rashford back?
Barcelona aren’t triggering his option, and United won’t get played around anymore, which means his future lies in limbo.
As it stands, he is not likely to play for United again despite being sent back by Barcelona, with his future likely to be resolved in a three-week span.
The same BBC report above states that those three weeks will follow England’s World Cup exit and Rashford reporting back for pre-season at Carrington.
Therefore, the transfer plans are clear. Dorgu becomes an attacking option on either wing, Rashford departs Old Trafford, and a left-back enters the agenda instead of a left-winger.
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