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Manchester United were keen to bring in a left-back before Tuesday’s transfer deadline, but not so desperate that they were prepared to overpay for a role that could yet remain the weakest area in the squad.

United’s urgency in the market was highlighted by reports that the Red Devils approached their city rivals to examine the possibility of signing Rayan Ait-Nouri after an agent offered the player to them a few days earlier.

At the same time, the club’s choice not to pursue a permanent agreement underlined the restraint that has become a recurring theme under INEOS. That call may help United from a financial point of view, but it does nothing to fix the pressing issue at left-back.

There is, however, still a way for the club to ease Michael Carrick’s burden without moving away from their wider strategy, which appears to involve another attempt for Lewis Hall next summer.

Oleksandr Zinchenko is currently without a club following his exit from Ajax.

The former Arsenal left-back joined the Amsterdam side in the winter transfer window after his season-long loan spell with Nottingham Forest was cut short ahead of schedule.

The Ukraine international signed a short-term contract with Ajax until June. Unfortunately for him, he was sidelined for the rest of last season after suffering a knee injury in only his second appearance for the Dutch giants.

As a result, the 29-year-old, who was once valued by Pep Guardiola at Manchester City for his versatility, and who won four Premier League titles there, is now a free agent this season.

Zinchenko is widely considered one of Manchester City’s smartest transfer deals, having arrived from Russian club Ufa in 2016 for only £1.7 million.

During six seasons in Manchester, he played 128 matches and impressed both at left-back and in midfield before completing a £36 million move to Arsenal in 2022.

Zinchenko is highly resistant under pressure because of his outstanding close control. He prefers short passing and is capable of breaking opposition lines with either a pass or a dribble, which makes him especially useful in build-up play against sides that press aggressively high up the pitch.

One reason Patrick Dorgu is not viewed as true competition for Luke Shaw at left-back is the Dane’s lack of calmness on the ball. Zinchenko is arguably every bit as good as Shaw, if not better, as an option for escaping the opposition press and moving play forward.

Without the ball, the Ukrainian full-back is comfortable in one-v-one defending, but he does not possess the athleticism to completely shut down the left side, in a similar way to Shaw.

Zinchenko’s injury history is also not vastly different from that of the England international. But with United not appearing especially intent on replacing Shaw and instead only needing high-quality cover, that should not be seen as a major warning sign, provided he can come through the medical checks.

Given that United’s leadership group includes several former Manchester City figures who were willing to consider signing a left-back from their old club, they could certainly do far worse than taking a chance on another player with City on his CV.