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So the answer to Manchester United's left-back problem definitely isn't Leighton Baines. The English international -- who David Moyes tried to sign back in the summer -- has signed a new long-term contract at Everton, meaning it's now highly unlikely we'll ever see him in a United shirt.
This news comes as little surprise, given that United supposedly made a big-money bid for Southampton's young left-back Luke Shaw a few days ago. Truth be told, we've probably dodged a bullet here, as spending big money on a solid-if-unspectacular veteran makes little sense when younger, better players are available.
It's certainly preferable that United turn their attention to more long-term targets, with the likes of Shaw having the potential to be considerably better than the 29-year-old. Real Madrid's 25-year-old Portuguese international Fábio Coentrão would too be an upgrade on Baines, though United's interest seems to have cooled on that front of late.
Youngsters Alberto Moreno and Ricardo Rodríguez of Sevilla and Wolfsburg have also been linked with moves to United, but seem unlikely to leave their respective clubs any time soon.
