Manchester United will be making some big decisions for their defensive line this summer
The defensive line of Manchester United have been the team’s one glaring flaw throughout this season. While the team also lacks creativity on offence and their forwards are often wasteful, it’s the defence that gets ripped apart by teams almost every other week.
Almost any opponent can take the field against United and get a decent number of shots past the team’s defence, something that should not be happening to the ‘biggest’ club in the world. Clearly, some changes are long overdue.
There will be decisions galore this summer when Manchester United kick off their summer squad overhaul. They one department the team seems to be particularly focused on changing is their defensive line.
Raphael Varane’s contract will be expiring at the end of this season and the Frenchman is expected to leave. Jonny Evans is another defender who will be out of contract this summer, though his future still seems to be undecided.
This leaves the team with Lisandro Martinez, Victor Lindelof, Harry Maguire and Willy Kambwala at CB. Martinez is an excellent player and is the team’s best defender so he will most likely not be going anywhere this summer.
There have been reports suggesting 31-year-old Maguire is ‘set to leave’ this summer. That leaves the team with Victor Lindelof, Lisandro Martinez and Kambwala on defence. Since Willy is still young the team can’t rely on him to be their first-choice defender for the entirety of a season.
Four defenders that Man United could sign this summer
We will most likely be seeing some big signings being made to fill the gaps in the Red Devils’ defence. Jarrad Branthwaite has consistently popped up as a target and Everton’s financial situation could force the Toffees to sell him this summer.
Man United have also been linked with Gleison Bremer and Atalanta’s young star, Giorgio Scalvini. Lastly, the team is also keen on signing Tosin Adarabioyo on a free trasnfer this summer.
So the team has a lot of targets for the summer. When we compare the quality of their defensive targets to the players who are expected to leave, the Red Devils might just fare a lot better when the next season begins.
While there are changes to be made across all levels it would serve the club well to prioritize getting some fresh legs on defence for next season.
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It’ll be interesting to see what kind of defensive lineup we get to witness at Old Trafford next season.