Plenty will argue that Manchester United will be making a huge mistake if they do not sign a new centre-back this summer.
The Red Devils do have as many as five senior centre-backs in their squad, but injuries have meant Michael Carrick is likely to start the new season without two of his best defenders.
Matthijs de Ligt is recuperating from back surgery and will miss a large chunk of the start of the next campaign.
Lisandro Martinez suffered an injury in the World Cup final, and that is likely to keep him out for some time. In general, his injury record since joining the club has been extremely poor.
Why United need a new centre-back
Add Harry Maguire’s own problems and his ageing legs, and it is clear to see why INEOS must prioritise this department as well.
Interestingly, Leny Yoro has been used as a makeshift right-back this pre-season, and if that becomes a regular occurrence next season, the number of options at Carrick’s disposal dwindles further.
However, journalist Ben Jacobs has revealed that United do not see centre-back as a priority position this summer.
They do have plans to sign Maguire’s eventual replacement, but only if the right profile becomes available.
United have looked at the market
“Nothing at the moment to suggest it’s a priority other than the long-term desire to kind of find a replacement for Harry Maguire.
“They’ve at least looked in a broad sense at the center back market, but not as higher priority this window unless the right opportunity presents itself compared to other targets.”
As of now, United’s focus is on finding that elusive third midfielder, but that search is not going according to plan.
Both Eduardo Camavinga and Aurelien Tchouameni seem off the market, while Alex Scott could also be slipping away from their grasp.
Whether a pursuit for Carlos Baleba becomes a reality remains to be seen.
Feature image Shaun Botterill 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
Ayantan Chowdhury
After failing to become a professional footballer, Ayantan switched to the next best thing: writing about the greatest football club in the world. He has extensive sports journalism experience, having worked for over 10 years in the Indian sports media industry, writing for the biggest newspapers and websites. Currently an editor at The Peoples Person. You can follow him on X: @ayantanc_25
