Penny pinching for a quality player like Höwedes and risking to go into a new season with Licht/DeS as RB pairing.
So yeah, there is room for criticism imo.
Problem is, which right back should we go for? I don't see any obvious choices significantly better than what we have, though i agree it is the weak spot in the team at the moment. Not sure Cancelo (loan with 33-35m (?) option), Karsdorp (14m €), Danilo (30m €), Nelson Semedo (30.5m €) would be significant upgrades, though i don't know Semedo so well - but guess we wouldn't be able to get him even if we tried. I would have liked Conti, but even then, he had one great season at Atalanta, isn't he rated the same as De Sciglio after his Milan break through season?
I am sure we are scouting for the position, i think this might very well be Lichtsteiners last season here...
However, we need 5 CBs, and Howedes can sub in at the wide defensive positions in the same way as Barzagli, so it makes sense to try and get him on the cheap.
About Shick: If Mandzukic will continue to be in contention for the left wing, we will need a back up for Higuain, who we absolutely need in top condition in the final phase of the season. I think last season he played to much, which showed in some of the important games in the last month of the season. This was a general issue for our front four. Kean may be able to sub in until winter, but he is still so young and raw, and are we ready to risk losing several points? Getting Shick and a CB would make total sense, and then hopefully the RB will be resolved in coming windows.