Rangnick warned Manchester United to replace Luke Shaw six years ago — they still haven't

Ralf Rangnick was questioning Luke Shaw’s suitability for Manchester United more than a year before he took charge as interim manager in 2021 — and footage of those comments has resurfaced after United closed the summer transfer window without signing a left-back.

The German coach, speaking before his November 2021 appointment, said he was unconvinced Shaw remained at the level required for a club of United’s stature. “I know they have Luke Shaw, but I’m not so sure if he’s still on the same kind of level that you need to be for a club like Manchester United,” Rangnick said at the time, adding that he felt the market offered “quite a few interesting young central defenders” and that United “could do with a left-back”.

That assessment has aged awkwardly. Michael Carrick prioritised midfield reinforcements this summer, bringing in Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans and Carlos Baleba, while also adding goalkeeper Karl Darlow. His attempts to land a left-back, however, came to nothing. Newcastle rejected United’s approach for Lewis Hall, and Barcelona’s Alejandro Balde remained at the Spotify Camp Nou on deadline day.

The failure to strengthen the position has been thrown into sharp relief by Shaw’s performances in the opening two Premier League fixtures of the 2026/27 season. Wayne Rooney was particularly critical after United’s 2-0 defeat to Hull City, describing one defensive lapse as “schoolboy defending” and pointing out that Shaw had dropped five yards behind his own back line at a crucial moment.

United did recover to beat Ipswich Town 5-2, but Shaw was candid about his own shortcomings in that match. “I’m disappointed in myself,” he told BBC Radio 5 Live. “With my experience, I must be doing much better for their first goal. That’s not me.”

Shaw’s situation looks more complicated now that United have returned to the Champions League. Patrick Dorgu has been considered as an option further forward on the left flank, raising questions about whether the club have left themselves dangerously thin at left-back — a concern, it turns out, that was first raised in a very public forum six years ago.