Manchester United change transfer plans, with INEOS selecting two summer targets

A new report has stated that Manchester United will attempt to sign two centre-backs this summer, with the Red Devils looking to fix their defensive woes.

This season, Erik ten Hag has started seven different players at centre-back, with United forced to put out a makeshift backline frequently.

Most recently, Ten Hag has played a defensive pairing of Casemiro and Harry Maguire, both of whom are expected to leave this summer.

Additionally; Victor Lindelof, Jonny Evans, Willy Kambwala, Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane, have all been used throughout the campaign.

Of those latter five names, all but Martinez and Kambwala are unlikely to have a long-term future at Manchester United, with INEOS looking to sell as many as twelve players this summer.

Having conceded the fifth most shots on target in the Premier League this season, combined with the upcoming summer exodus, United are in desperate need of new central defenders to add to their squad.

With that in mind, a new report from the Manchester Evening News has revealed that Jarrad Branthwaite and Edmond Tapsoba are amongst INEOS’ top targets for the position.

Branthwaite has excelled this season at Everton. But, with the Merseyside club known to be dealing with financial issues, United are believed to be confident in their pursuit of the Englishman.

Though Branthwaite has long since been speculated as United’s top target for this upcoming summer window, Tapsoba has rarely been linked with a move to Manchester.

Tapsoba, a key part of Bayer Leverkusen’s historic Bundesliga title win this season, is in his fifth season with this season’s German champions.

Signing for the club in January 2020, Tapsoba has gone on to make 125 Bundesliga appearances for the side to date.

It has also been reported by several outlets that United hold an interest in Tapsoba’s teammate Jeremie Frimpong, with the Dutch wing-back believed to be a favourite of Ten Hag.