It is set to be a case of out with the old and in with the new in Manchester United’s centre-back department this summer.
Just over a week after Raphael Varane’s contract officially expired, United are making progress with their mission to replace him with Matthijs de Ligt. It is understood the club is confident of signing the Bayern Munich defender and reuniting him with Erik ten Hag.
The Netherlands international, who worked with his fellow countryman at Ajax, is in pole position to replace Varane and join forces with Lisandro Martinez in the heart of United’s rearguard. It would mark the dawn of yet another centre-back partnership at Old Trafford.
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An unprecedented injury crisis saw Ten Hag deploy countless different centre-back partnerships last term, resulting in Casemiro even having to swap the base of midfield for the back-four on a handful of occasions. United missed Martinez more than anyone else last season and securing him a new first-choice partner ahead of the new campaign must be a leading priority.
In De Ligt, United would be bagging a 24-year-old centre-back whose best years are still to come. Plus, it was not all that long ago he was considered as one of the most promising defenders in the world.
If United reach an agreement with Bayern to bring him to M16, he will be expected to cement his place alongside Martinez in the heart of the defence. It would represent United’s strongest partnership on paper.
However, just as United found out on too many occasions last term, there is no downplaying the importance of having strength in depth. In addition to Martinez, United’s only other senior centre-backs are currently Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof. Willy Kambwala, who will turn 20 next month, is yet to fully establish himself as a first-team player and Jonny Evans’ future remains up in the air.
But in a climate where United need to sell to buy this summer, there is an expectation for either Maguire or Lindelof to be sold to get money in the coffers. Both players will equally believe they should be starting week-in, week-out, but that craving will not be achievable if De Ligt is added to the club’s centre-back department.
Maguire, who resurrected his United career last season before cruelly missing the end of it through injury, is out-of-contract at Old Trafford at the end of this forthcoming season, likewise Lindelof. The key difference is that United have the option to extend Maguire’s stay by another 12 months.
United exercised the exact same option in Lindelof’s contract back in December, tying him down for another year. That ensured United did not lose him for free to an overseas club from January onwards this year.
Taking the two contract situations into account, it would make more sense for United to cash-in on Lindelof over Maguire in this summer’s window, and that is understood to be the club’s preference. The former is one of a handful of players who are available for transfer ahead of the August 30 deadline.
The Swede, who encountered injuries of his own last term, played 28 times in total in 2023/24, just three games fewer than Maguire’s tally of 31. Maguire, however, enjoyed a better season than his defensive colleague, putting himself in the conversation for the club’s Player of the Season award.
With United having the option to extend Maguire’s stay for a further 12 months, it would make more sense for Lindelof to be offloaded, both for his benefit and the club’s. Turning 30 later this month, he will want to earn regular minutes.
The conundrum for United, however, is the fact they need to raise as much money as possible through player sales this summer and Maguire would command a higher price than Lindelof. According to Transfermarkt, Maguire’s current market value is £15.2m and Lindelof’s stands at £12.6m.
In reality, United are likely to command a higher price for both players, not least in Maguire’s case. His stock has risen again after an underwhelming couple of years. Despite his issues, he would have started England’s Euro 2024 campaign had he recovered from injury in time, and he returned to Carrington on Monday fit and healthy after sessions in Portugal with the United medical team.
United, ideally, need to end the transfer window with five centre-backs in situ, meaning they could make another addition on top of De Ligt, as well as agree fresh terms with Evans. The latter played more games than anyone could have predicted last season and would still be useful as a squad player.
Lindelof and Maguire, however, will have greater ambitions than the Northern Irishman. One of them needs to go.