Since the departure of Jose Mourinho at Manchester United and the subsequent appointment till the end of the season of Red Devils legend Ole Gunnar Solskjær, the improvement on the pitch has been nothing short of miraculous given the performances and results under the Portuguese boss.
The Norwegian former goal machine has given United stars such as Paul Pogba, Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial a real sense of freedom and allowed them to express themselves in a way that they perhaps weren’t able to under a highly structured, largely counter attacking boss in Mourinho.
The issues haven’t suddenly vanished, though, with United’s 2-2 Premier League draw at home to Burnley highlighting their frailties, particularly at the back, once again. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter who’s in charge of the side – Manchester United need reinforcements if they’re to challenge for honours on a consistent basis once again.
Some deals might be done during the campaign behind closed doors perhaps, but a lot of business is most likely to take place at the end of the season, when the summer rebuild can truly take shape.
Below are a few defenders that could help take Manchester United up a level or two and enable them to get back to competing with Europe’s elite again.
Matthijs De Ligt (Ajax)
Ajax’s De Ligt is one of the best young defensive talents in Europe currently and at the age of just 19, the Dutchman appears to have one hell of a bright future ahead of him. He recently scooped the ‘Golden Boy’ award for the best player operating in Europe under the age of 21.
United’s rivals for the Champions League crown are already sniffing around in the shape of Barcelona, Real Madrid and Juventus so the Red Devils would have to move quickly to secure his services. Speaking of the Champions League, United need signings like De Ligt if they’re to truly challenge for the competition you’d think. Odds on them winning it at 28/1 (bet365) represents excellent value for a resurgent Red Devils side, but with their defensive frailties usually coming back to haunt them it might be a tall order. Odds on the likes of Juventus – priced at 13/2 (bet365), Real Madrid – priced at 12/1 and Barcelona – currently priced at 9/2, perhaps offer a more realistic chance of coming in.
Harry Maguire (Leicester City)
United’s interest in Maguire is no secret as they reportedly tried to sign the England star after the World Cup in Russia but were put off by Leicester’s valuation of the defender. Maguire is tall, strong and has proven himself on the world’s biggest stage with the Three Lions. He’s exactly the sort of the defender Solskjaer’s side need as they look to secure a much-needed Premier League title, instead of battling for a top four place. While punters might shy away from backing United at 9/4 for a top-four finish, this guide to free football betting gives them a chance and points to some risk-free bets.
Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid)
Rumours have been surfacing that perhaps Ramos, who’s arguably the best defender in the world at the moment, could be tempted with a move away from the turmoil at Real Madrid in the summer. A La Liga title is looking out of Real’s reach, with odds on them winning it at 16/1 (bet365). Should Ramos’ Madrid then fall short in the Champions League this campaign then he could seek pastures new. A whole host of clubs would certainly be alerted but with United’s pulling power they could well get the marquee signing they love to make.
