According to The Times (h/t Daily Mirror), Graeme Souness has identified Caglar Soyuncu as the perfect partner for Harry Maguire at Manchester United.
Souness, a Liverpool legend, was of the opinion that Manchester United need to bolster their backline in order to win trophies. Souness also suggested that Leicester City’s star defender Soyuncu could be a good addition to the United defence and that he should partner Red Devils skipper Maguire if United are to get back to the top.
Meanwhile, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Manchester United have conceded just 31 goals from 31 league games since the arrival of Maguire from Leicester City last summer. The Englishman’s arrival has strengthened United’s back-four. A poor backline saw United emerge as the top-ten Premier League side with the second-worst defensive record last season.
The lack of an established defender clearly affected the side as they conceded 54 goals from 38 league matches last term. Only West Ham, who let in 55 goals, had a worse defensive record than them among the top-ten sides.
United’s defence has improved drastically compared to last season but that is not enough for them to get back to the top, with the side currently sitting 6th in the table.
Champions Liverpool (21), and third-placed Leicester City (29) still have a better defensive record than United, meaning the side could do with another established defender in their ranks to bolster their options next season.
United have mostly relied on the defensive partnership involving Maguire and Victor Lindelof. However, Lindelof has been inconsistent and error-prone at times. Lindelof, who has started in 28 of United’s league matches this season has managed 8 clean sheets so far, while Maguire, who has been a regular in all their matches, has 9 to his name.
Apart from Maguire and Lindelof, United have Eric Bailly, Axel Tuanzebe and Phil Jones at the back. However, none of them has played consistently for a long time. Bailly just returned from a long injury layoff recently and impressed with two clean sheets from three league games. However, his numerous past injuries remain a concern for United.
Tuanzebe, on the other hand, is still young and lacks game experience, having made just five league appearances. Jones, meanwhile, is clearly not a favourite and is way down the pecking order. That said, the Red Devils would do well to rope in a consistent performer like Soyuncu, who has been rock-solid at the back for the Foxes this term.
He has kept an impressive 12 clean sheets from 30 matches, that has seen Leicester climb to third place in the table this season. Soyuncu, who arrived for £18million in the summer of 2018, has so far made 45 appearances for them. He has also partnered Maguire at Leicester and it wouldn’t take him much time to adjust to the new surroundings at Old Trafford given he has Premier League experience now.
Soyuncu is in sensational form at the moment and his addition will only make United stronger at the back. Also, he is just 24 and suits exactly the mould of young and hungry talents with which Solskjaer is building a squad at Old Trafford.
Hence, it would be wise of United to pay heed to Souness’ words and sign the Foxes defender if they wish to get back to the top next season.
