Rio Ferdinand names two defenders Erik ten Hag should sign at Man United

Rio Ferdinand has made two suggestions to Erik ten Hag for centre-back additions at Manchester United next summer.

It has been widely reported that United are in the market for a central defender in the upcoming summer transfer window after they failed to move on Harry Maguire to West Ham this summer.

Another addition is crucial for Ten Hag, who has a starting centre-back pairing with several injury issues. Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane have both already had spells out of the team this season.

Martinez, now, with a more serious foot problem that he sustained last season; and Varane, who has had multiple issues keep him out of the team at different times.

Being able to have more quality depth in the position would be a huge positive for The Reds and their former defender, Ferdinand, has suggested two defenders in Europe as answers.

Firstly, the Champions League winner identified Lens defender Kevin Danso, who helped the French club finish second in Ligue 1 last term, as one option. Whilst Barcelona centre-back Ronald Araújo is considered the other option.

“The boy at Lens, there’s one there, he’s good,” Ferdinand told the Manchester Evening News. “The Uruguayan boy at Barcelona – Araujo. Whether he’s gettable or not, I think he’s brilliant. He’s an unreal centre half.

“He has every attribute to be perfect for the Premier League. I’d probably say he’s the standout, but whether he’s gettable or not, I don’t know.”

An addition of this ilk, whilst it would add quality in depth, will not quite solve United’s biggest issue in defence according to Ferdinand.

The Englishman believes that United must be able to have a ‘foundation’ in their backline where Ten Hag can pick a similar centre-back pairing, and full-backs, for the majority of a season.

“I’ve always said this – to be a successful team, you need that foundation of a solid defence and to be able to pick similar players,” he added.

“I think you look at the teams that have won recently – Liverpool and Man City – they’ve had consistency in their backlines of players featuring, especially in important stages of the season. And maybe United haven’t been afforded that.

“But Martinez has been a huge, huge loss. His personality, his character, his ability on the ball has been exactly what Ten Hag wants and United were at their best last season when those two were playing together.

“But, again, with every person who falls away and gets injured, there’s an opportunity for someone else and at the moment, Harry Maguire seems to have that shirt. Hopefully, that form continues now.”