Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia have missed the lion's share of the ongoing campaign for Manchester United. According to reports, the Premier League team has zeroed in on a youngster they would love to sign this coming summer.
Attacking left-back Melvin Bard is a priority target for the Red Devils, The Standard said in a report. The 23-year-old Frenchman, who currently represents Ligue 1's Nice, is known for his attacking runs through the left flank. He is hopeful of making it to the French squad for the Euro Cup, reports added.
Earlier in the season, Manchester United explored the possibility of finding a new right-back that suited Erik Ten Hag's plans. However, Diogo Dalot and Aaron Wan-Bissaka putting up strong performances have forced the club to sign a new left-back instead, The Standard added.
Bard, who reportedly got two years left on his current contract with the fifth-placed Nice, is expected to initiate contract talks with his club in the coming months. While the report had no information on the kind of money United is willing to spend on Bard, it claimed the club may invest money earned by the sales of Jadon Sancho, Mason Greenwood, Antony, Raphael Varane and Casemiro on targets including him.
Manchester United's season: The broader picture
United is still clinging to hopes of a Champions League spot, despite a stunning 4-3 loss to Chelsea on Thursday night.
United first gave away the lead in the 10th minute of stoppage time at Stamford Bridge and then the game a minute later both goals coming from Cole Palmer.
That followed a blown lead in a 1-1 draw at Brentford last Saturday. United had just recovered from celebrating Mason Mount's goal in the 96th when Kristoffer Ajer tied it three minutes later.
"We can beat the best teams in the Premier League, Ten Hag said. When you beat them in the Premier League, you can do it across Europe, but we need to learn how you win games ... how you bring games over the line and get the three points. We have to step up."
Dropping five points in the past two games is very expensive, he added.
United exited the Champions League at the group stage in last place. They gave away second-half leads in three of those games: a 3-2 home loss to Galatasaray; a 4-3 defeat at Copenhagen; and a 3-3 draw at Galatasaray.
On the other hand, the former Premier League champions closed out a big win recently over Liverpool 4-3 after extra time in a thrilling FA Cup quarterfinal match. Marcus Rashford tied it at 3-3 before Amad Diallo's winner at Old Trafford.