Manchester United are reportedly set to make a move for a new right-back in the January window after missing out on first-choice target Kieran Trippier over the summer.
The Red Devils were heavily linked with a move for Trippier, but Atletico Madrid refused to accept a bid below the 30-year-old’s £34m asking price, putting an end to any negotiations.
As a result, United’s hierarchy has drawn up a shortlist of alternative options as they look to add cover and competition for Aaron Wan-Bissaka, with Rangers pair James Tavernier and Nathan Patterson potential candidates, according to 90min.
However, another name on Solskjaer’s wishlist is believed to be Norwich City’s highly-rated full-back Max Aarons.
The report states that: “Another player on United’s radar is Norwich City’s Max Aarons, who neighbourhood rivals Manchester City have been following closely for a long time.
“United’s scouting team already put a dossier together on him, which reads very positively for the England Under-21 international.”
Aarons has established himself as one of English football’s most exciting young full-backs over the last couple of campaigns after rising through the ranks at boyhood club Norwich.
Since making his debut for the Canaries back in 2018, the £19.8m-rated beast has made 137 appearances in all competitions, scoring five goals and providing 13 assists along the way.
His outstanding displays at club level has earned Aarons 12 caps for Englands U21 side, and he’s long been linked with a transfer away from Carrow Road, but his former national team boss Aidy Boothroyd revealed the speculation has not affected the youngster.
“He’s an unassuming guy,” said Boothroyd. “All the speculation would get to most people, but it hasn’t to him. He gives 100 percent in training and matches, in all the games I’ve seen him at Norwich he’s been outstanding and had a real energy and go about him.
“So that transfer talk hasn’t affected him or appears not to have, and he’s been great here. He just gets on with it. I think he’s a really big talent and again, like a lot of the players here, he’s nowhere near finished in his development.”
Although United’s current right-back Wan-Bissaka is extremely competent in a defensive sense, the 23-year-old has often struggled in the final third of the pitch, producing just managed 0.2 shots and 0.7 key passes per match in his career so far.