Manchester United are part of a long list of suitors for a Premier League defender, after inquiring about him in January.
Manchester United appear to be looking at defenders for the summer transfer window, with fresh reports of a £35 million offer for a La Liga centre-back. Michael Carrick currently has a wealth of defensive options to choose from, but improvements can still be made.
In central defence, Ayden Heaven and Leny Yoro have impressed under Rúben Amorim, but game time won’t be easy to come by before the end of the season. Both need to develop before gaining a starting spot at Old Trafford, but how will they do so without regular minutes? At least one may need to leave on loan in the summer.
Harry Maguire’s contract is also set to expire at the end of the season, with no reports of a contract extension just yet. He has started alongside Lisandro Martínez under Carrick, as Matthijs de Ligt has been out with a back injury since December.
On the left side, Luke Shaw appears to be the undisputed starter, especially while Patrick Dorgu is out injured, although the Dane was playing further forward, anyway. Tyrell Malacia looked set for the exit door in January, before the move fell through, while Diego Leon and Harry Amass continue their development in the under-21s and at Norwich City, respectively.
Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui occupy the right-back spot and will do so into the summer, but both have struggled for consistency this season. It may not be in their place, but defensive recruitments seem likely.
United face Senesi competition
United were linked with AFC Bournemouth’s Marcos Senesi in the January transfer window, but a move didn’t arise after Antoine Semenyo left the club. His transfer made any other deals much harder to do, but a summer move remains a possibility.
However, Mirko Di Natale has now reported that Borussia Dortmund are the latest club to inquire about the Argentine. This adds to an already long list of suitors for Senesi.
AS Roma have been interested since last summer, with Juventus, Chelsea and Brighton all known as additional long-term admirers. But Everton and Crystal Palace have also joined the list more recently.
A deal now looks much harder to complete for United, unless Carrick can return the club to the Champions League. Perhaps that will give United the edge over other Premier League suitors, if Senesi is happy in England.
United should trust Heaven over Senesi
Like United’s Heaven, Senesi is a left-footed defender, meaning he would likely play back up to Martínez, who has been another impressive performer since Carrick took charge.
Before Carrick took over from Fletcher, though, Heaven was United’s best player, especially in the final days of Amorim’s tenure. He may need more time to develop, but he has earned a chance to stay at Old Trafford and fight for his place.
Signing a right-footed centre-back makes sense for United, with Maguire set to leave and De Ligt struggling for fitness, but a left-footer shouldn’t be a priority.
United’s main focus in the transfer window must be on new defensive midfielders. Casemiro will leave the club in the summer, and Manuel Ugarte may follow. They must be replaced with quality.
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