Nottingham Forest have a second offer in for Feyenoord left-back Givairo Reid, and according to transfer insider Fabrizio Romano, personal terms are already agreed. That puts Manchester United in an awkward spot. They’ve been linked with the 20-year-old for months, but Forest just jumped the line.
Romano’s latest update frames this as a deal moving forward between Forest and Feyenoord. The package is worth around €20 million. For context, that’s not a huge number in today’s market for a full-back with two strong Eredivisie seasons under his belt. But for United, it’s suddenly a problem.
United’s left-back situation is getting thin
Tyrell Malacia left Old Trafford when his contract expired at the end of June. That leaves Luke Shaw as the only fit senior natural left-back on the roster. And we all know Shaw’s track record. He started 38 Premier League matches last season, which felt like an anomaly given his injury history. The guy has been a machine this year, but past seasons have been a different story. One hamstring tweak and United are looking at Noussair Mazraoui on the left again, or pushing young Harry Amass into a starting role he might not be ready for.
Amass has been getting minutes in preseason but he’s still figuring things out at senior level. He has potential. But relying on a teenager to cover for Shaw is a gamble the club probably doesn’t want to take over a full season.
Reid fits the profile United needs
Reid is the kind of full-back that makes things happen. He’s all over the pitch, always available for the ball in advanced areas, always looking to create in the final third. Two standout seasons at Feyenoord have marked him as someone ready to step up. Liverpool were reportedly tracking him too, so it’s not like United were alone in the chase. But Forest have made the first real move.
And that’s the thing. United have been linked to a bunch of left-back options. Lewis Hall at Newcastle has been mentioned. Other names have floated around. But while United were doing their due diligence, Forest put together a concrete offer, got the player on board, and now they’re pushing to close it.
The question is whether United will scramble to match it. They have the money. €20 million is not a dealbreaker for a club of United’s size. But they’ve been burned before by acting late in the window. If they want Reid, they need to move now. Forest aren’t waiting around.
Romano’s phrasing — calling it a deal underway — suggests the paperwork might be closer than people think. United could still hijack it if they act fast. But every day that passes makes that harder.
Leave a Comment