United’s pursuit of 26-yo speed demon in jeopardy as PL rivals take decisive step – report

One area of the pitch where Manchester United could be tempted to invest this summer is the left-back position. Luke Shaw may be enjoying a new lease of life this season, but he will turn 31 this summer, at which point he will also enter the final year of his contract. The Englishman appears to have shaken off his injury troubles in the past 12 months and has started every game in the Premier League this season. Shaw did not look out of place as part of a back three in former head coach Ruben Amorim’s 3-4-3 system. When the Portuguese lost his job in January and Michael Carrick took charge as caretaker manager until the end of the season, the Red Devils switched to a back four. Shaw, though, slotted seamlessly into his natural left-back role and has played an important role in the team’s recent rise. However, his future remains unclear, and with Patrick Dorgu flourishing in a more attacking position, reinforcing the left-back position could be on INEOS’ agenda this summer. A previous report relayed by The Peoples Person suggests that United already have their eyes on Sporting full-back Maxi Araujo as Shaw’s possible successor. Primeira Liga’s Flying full-back Araujo arrived at the Estadio Jose Alvalade in the summer of 2024 from Mexican club Toluca, and briefly worked with Amorim. By the end of the season, the Uruguayan had cemented his place in the starting XI. This season, the 26 year old has managed to hit a higher gear, and has subsequently turned heads at Old Trafford. Araujo has registered six goals and four assists in 41 appearances across all competitions for the Portuguese club, all but four of which were starts. Maxi Araujo Stats: 2025/26 Season CompetitionAppearancesStartsGoalsAssistsYellow CardsRed CardsMinutes Played Liga Portugal242143911,839′ UEFA Champions League1111214-982′ Taça de Portugal43—-285′ Allianz Cup11—-90′ Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira11—-73′ Total4137641313,269′ Source: Transfermarkt. A previous report relayed by The Peoples Person suggested that United could secure the Uruguayan’s signature for €40-50m this summer. However, it now appears that a Premier League rival is ready to pip the Red Devils to Araujo’s signature. Arsenal establish contact for Araujo According to Record, Arsenal have initiated talks to sign Araujo this summer. Mikel Arteta is reportedly impressed by the Uruguayan’s performance in the two UEFA Champions League quarter-final games against the Gunners. While the Portuguese club were knocked out of the tournament, Araujo managed to impress, and the north London side now believe he can be a fine addition to their squad. Arsenal have held preliminary conversations with the player’s camp to help facilitate a move at the end of the season. The Uruguayan is under contract until 2029, so Sporting hold the upper hand in any potential negotiations. The report also confirms interest from United, Atletico Madrid and Manchester City, and insists that only an offer in excess of €50 million will be considered. Final Thoughts United are reportedly planning to raise £100 million from player sales this summer, while securing Champions League qualification could see them earn an additional £70 million. As such, the Red Devils could have the funds to go head-to-head with their Premier League rivals for Araujo this year. However, midfield reinforcements are likely to be the priority for United this summer. One assumes that most resources are likely to be directed at signing able replacements for Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte. Featured image Carlos Rodrigues via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Deepungsu Pandit Deepungsu has been a Manchester United fan since 2000. In his playing days, he was an attacking midfielder with a proclivity for the back heel. Right now, however, he prefers to operate as a regista. Deepungsu has been writing about the Red Devils, Football, and other things since 2009. He has worked for over seven years with Sportskeeda, writing football reviews, opinions and news articles. Deepungsu also maintains a blog, The Thinking Me, where he writes about life and things that interest him. His favourite Manchester United player is Paul Scholes.