Red Devils proved last campaign that they have the firepower to win most matches if they play well, but the back-line also showed they will cost them tight matches by completely switching off.
The UEL loss to Sevilla was a prime example of their defensive frailties, as the Red Devils defenders invited Luuk de Jong to have as much room as he liked in the six-yard box for the winner. It means they need to upgrade the unit this summer and finding a partner for Harry Maguire should be their first priority.
Harry is a great defender and he’s improved them, but he seems so slow when he’s isolated and it means he needs a partner with some pace and aggression to hide his weaknesses. Red Devils and Man City are looking to sign Napoli centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly, but it actually sounds like Man United have an advantage here if they want him.
That suggests that Serie A giants will gladly sell him to anybody else if it avoids the need to deal with Man City, while it’s comical that two teams can fall out to the point that an agent has to scurry back and forward with messages from the other side.
Senegal international’s qualities would pair excellently with Harry Maguire and it would actually give them a solid base at the back, but it would mean that Ed Woodward will need to move quickly, something that may not be possible.
The Italian club know their best chance of bolstering the squad would come by securing a big fee for the 29-year-old centre-backs, who is regarded as one of the best defenders on the planet.
