Man Utd told to pull out of Barcelona transfer and sign 'wonderful' £30m star

United looking to sign a left-back before the transfer window closes (Picture: Rex Features)

Former Manchester United star Paul Parker has urged the club to sign West Ham ’s El Hadji Malick Diouf to solve their problem at left-back.

United have finished their midfield rebuild with Carlos Baleba set to join the club alongside Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans . But the club are still eager to bring in another option at left-back before next week’s transfer deadline.

Luke Shaw started every Premier League match for United last season but given his injury record, there are concerns over whether he can stay fit with their return to the Champions League bringing in a more demanding schedule.

Shaw’s fitness issues have been well-documented over the years with his performance in the opening day defeat to Hull City also put under the spotlight , directly at fault for the Tigers’ second goal.

United are keen on Lewis Hall but Newcastle United have firmly closed the door on any move this summer. The club have held talks over a move for Barcelona’s Alejandro Balde with the left-back considering leaving the Camp Nou, with Racing Santander’s Jorge Salinas another option under consideration.

Parker, who spent five years at United under Sir Alex Ferguson, fears Shaw’s limitations mean United must do business in the next week, naming West Ham’s Diouf as a ready-make option to come in.

Diouf could leave West Ham before deadline day (Picture: Rex Features)

The Senegal international is wanted by Brentford but Parker has urged his old side to swoop in, believing a deal could be done for around £30million.

‘They can’t put themselves in the position of being stuck with Shaw and having to rely on him because he can’t do what the modern day left back does,’ Parker told Metro , via GambleGuru UK .

‘You want someone who wants to run rather than someone who is only going to run if he’s going to get the ball.

‘For £30 odd million, why don’t United sign Diouf from West Ham?

Shaw struggled on the opening day against Hull (Picture: REUTERS)

‘Great left foot, wonderful crosser without a doubt. He gets up and down he’s quite content in defence, but if you get enough possession, he will get forward and he’ll create goals.

‘He isn’t big money and you’ve got somebody who’s already played in this league rather than go and bring somebody from Barcelona who hasn’t, and you’ve got someone there who actually knows the league and will just adapt straight away. That makes sense, but I don’t know if that fits the criteria of people at United and who they want to sign.