The Amass situation is puzzling. A natural left-back from United’s academy, he enjoyed a solid loan at Sheffield Wednesday last season, then picked up an injury soon after moving to Norwich in the winter window. At 19, he impressed many during pre-season while working closely with Luke Shaw.
Despite that, United seemed prepared to let him go.
Back in the summer of 2024, Erik ten Hag left him out of the Community Shield squad, even though Amass had held his own against Mo Salah in a U.S. friendly just a week earlier. Ten Hag’s view was that he wasn’t physically ready. In theory, two years on, he should be stronger and more robust.
Plenty of clubs have shown interest. His absence from the Premier League 2 match against Leicester on Monday, right before the deadline, led many to assume he would depart, likely on loan.
That move never materialised, and his place around the first team is now unclear.
United’s openness to using Noussair Mazraoui on the left has been influenced by Leny Yoro’s pre-season showings. Signed from Lille for £52m in 2024 as a centre-back, Yoro was deployed mostly at right-back by Michael Carrick this summer.
Against Ipswich on Sunday, Yoro came on at right-back for Diogo Dalot, while Mazraoui replaced Shaw on the opposite flank. At 20, Yoro still has much to learn about the role, but he’s quick, powerful and composed in possession. United fans need only look at how Josko Gvardiol has adapted to full-back at Manchester City after arriving as a central defender to see how a switch can work.
It’s a calculated gamble.
Crucially, United were determined not to abandon their summer stance on fees or repeat signings like Alex Telles, Matteo Darmian or Sergio Reguilon—players who arrived in recent years but fell short of the required level.
On paper, the approach is logical and likely correct.
But once the games start and results fluctuate, those outcomes will ultimately judge whether it was the right call.