Manchester United will be targeting looking at potential centre back signings this summer and may actually need to go for two additions rather than just one.
Harry Maguire has battled his way back from the brink, saving his United career after rejecting a move to West Ham United last summer.
There are problems elsewhere though with Raphael Varane likely to move this summer and Victor Lindelof’s future is unclear.
A right-footed centre back to partner Lisandro Martinez looked like being a top priority heading into 2024.
Yet with Martinez struggling due to injury problems this season, United may actually need to sign two centre backs this season.
One centre back would be a right-footer to nail down that spot for the future and one signing would be a left-footer as competition and cover for Martinez.
It’s unclear just how much Ineos would be willing to spend on those two signings but the sheer number of centre backs being linked suggests that defence is a top priority.
Bayern Munich could axe Manchester United target Dayot Upamecano
One of the many, many names mentioned is Dayot Upamecano.
Reports in March suggested that Bayern Munich defender Upamecano is one of the centre backs on United’s radar for the summer.
The Frenchman has previously been recommended by Rio Ferdinand and the time may be right for him to finally make the move to Old Trafford.
Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg now claims that Bayern want to sign a new centre back in Bayer Leverkusen’s Jonathan Tah.
Yet in order to sign Tah, Bayern must sell a defender first – and Plettenberg claims that Upamecano could be the one to go.
Bayern already have the likes of Kim Min-jae, Eric Dier and Matthijs de Ligt, meaning Upamecano has already been in and out of the side anyway.
That just heightens the chance of moving on and United could be tempted to launch a move for the Frenchman.
Upamecano divides opinion
Upamecano looked like becoming a top defender during his time with RB Leipzig, sparking Bayern into paying £37million for his signature in 2021.
The Frenchman hasn’t really taken his game to another level though and his up-and-down displays mean he divides opinion.
For example, Upamecano managed to get himself sent off twice in the space of four days in February.
A red against Lazio in the Champions League was followed by a dismissal in a shock 3-2 defeat to Bochum.
Upamecano has only played five times since then, with only one of those games coming as a starter.
Bayern may now be willing to let him go and whilst we can understand United being tempted given Upamecano’s physical attributes, we wink there may be better centre back options out there.