Man Utd could solve problem position by signing player Erik ten Hag wanted for nothing

 Manchester United could turn to Rico Henry this summer as they look for defensive reinforcement at left-back. The Brentford star has been a key part of Keith Andrews' success in the capital this season, playing a part in 25 Premier League games.

With Luke Shaw out of contract next summer and approaching 32, the Red Devils would be wise to find a replacement and integrate him into the team across 2026/27 rather than holding off and assessing their options in a limited timeframe. Given Henry's current deal with Brentford is up in a matter of months, United could bag the 28-year-old for free.

That is, unless, the Bees exercise their option of handing Henry a further year at the Gtech Community Stadium. It's not the first time that United are thought to be considering a potential swoop for the Jamaica International, with Erik ten Hag an admirer of Henry during his own tenure at Old Trafford.

The Dutchman held the reins of the club between 2022 and 2024 and was at the forefront of a number of big name acquisitions - including Manuel Ugarte, Joshua Zirkzee, Rasmus Hojlund, Casemiro and Antony, to name a few.

However, the proverbial 'one that got away' was seemingly Henry. Back in 2023, Ten Hag was said to be interested in making a move for the left-back, with Shaw sidelined with a muscular injury.

While Marc Cucurella and Marcos Alonso were also under consideration, United ultimately put their faith in Tottenham Hotspur's Sergio Reguilon, who joined on a less than fruitful emergency loan in the September.

The now 29-year-old picked up four yellow cards across 12 matches for the Red Devils, before he returned to his parent club in the January, when Shaw had returned to full fitness. The Spaniard then left Spurs last summer upon the expiration of his contract, joining Inter Miami in December 2025.

Ten Hag's own tenure in the north west was also not without its struggles, guiding United to a lowly eighth-place finish in the Premier League standings in 2023/24 before he was replaced by Ruben Amorim in November 2024 following a lacklustre start to the new season.

Amorim was also handed his own walking papers by the board a matter of months ago, with Michael Carrick thriving at the helm on an interim basis until the end of the season. As things stand, the club head into their final two games of the season with Nottingham Forest and Brighton in third place, having already secured Champions League football.

It marks a major turnaround from last season's dismal 15th-place finish under Amorim. While it is unknown as to whether the board will continue to instil faith in Carrick for 2026/27, Henry isn't the only left-back that the club could choose to bring in this summer.

The Red Devils have also been linked with Barcelona wonderkid Alejandro Balde, as well as Newcastle United's Lewis Hall. The latter has been a shining light in an otherwise lacklustre Magpies side this season but United could face stiff competition from the likes of Liverpool in securing his services.