- Manchester United eye Benfica left-back
- Swede has already featured for his national side
- Plays under ex-United boss Jose Mourinho
Manchester United have reportedly identified a long-term successor to Luke Shaw, intensifying their pursuit of Samuel Dahl. The 23-year-old Swedish left-back—comfortable being utilised further forward on the wing—has already begun to cement his place in the national side.
Portuguese outlet Record claims that Dahl ‘seduces United.’ The club have sent scouts to watch him in action this season and have been impressed.
A new left-back could be on the agenda to either give Shaw competition or become his permanent replacement. Dahl’s not the only one on the Reds’ wishlist, as reports claim that Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly is of interest.
Manchester United Target Dahl
Dahl arrived at Benfica on loan from Roma at the start of 2025; however, the club quickly moved to secure him permanently on 12 June for €9 million (£7.85m).
Since then, he has thrived in Portugal. Dahl has scarcely left the pitch, featuring in all but two matches across all competitions and amassing 3,967 minutes—just 353 short of playing every available minute.
Moreover, he has played a pivotal role under Jose Mourinho, the former Manchester United manager, further underlining his growing stature at the highest level.
Shaw’s Injury Troubles
The 2025/26 season has been Shaw’s most consistent for years. He has started every Premier League game and logged the bulk of the minutes. Out of a possible 2,790, Shaw has played 2,626, the 23rd-highest in the league and 15th among outfield players.
Despite his consistency this season, Shaw has been plagued by injuries throughout his career. 306 games missed. 2184 days out injured.
Shaw has spent the equivalent of five years and 359 days on the treatment table, missing over 300 matches across club and country. If he stays fit over the next two months, he will complete just the second season of his career without missing a match through injury—the first coming in 2013/14.
Whilst he may be in fine form, there are aspects of his game that are simply not there anymore. Once one of the best overlapping full-backs in the world, Shaw is unable to exert himself to the same standards as years gone by, and has had to alter his game in recent months.
Shaw’s all-around game, though, has become smarter. The explosive overlaps that defined his 2021 peak have given way to something more measured, an all-around game.
The Englishman no longer bursts forward as he did in the 2021 European Championship final, when he scored inside the opening minutes.
Instead, he plays with greater control. More measured, more composed. He avoids aerial lunges, stepping in to chest the ball down and shield his body from strain.
While his all-round game has improved, United still need a full-back who can drive overlapping runs and offer consistent support in attack.
Could Dahl be that fix? There is a possibility.
Luke Shaw’s heatmap
Samuel Dahl heatmap
Both heatmaps taken from SofaScore
If you look at both their heatmaps, you can see that whilst Shaw is still helping in the middle of the field, he is practically ineffective in the final third. Dahl, however, is getting all the way forward, whilst covering the same amount of ground as Shaw does.
