Manchester United have recently held contacts over signing a 23-year-old who could replace Harry Maguire, according to reliable reports.
The centre-back situation at Old Trafford
Currently, United are in a fairly good place when it comes to their centre-backs.
Last season, Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane built a formidable partnership at the heart of the defence, something the Red Devils had been missing for years.
When both were struck by injury in the Europa League quarter-final against Sevilla, Victor Lindelof and Luke Shaw stepped up in remarkable fashion, with the Englishman aptly switching over from left-back to partner the Swede, who himself filled in admirably having spent most of the campaign as a bench option.
With two different partnerships to call upon, Erik ten Hag’s options at centre-back look promising heading into the new season, but they aren’t perfect.
As United’s first-choice left-back, Shaw is a loss to the left flank when he is required in central defence, and there is a notable difference when Tyrell Malacia plays instead of him. Moreover, former club captain Harry Maguire remains at the club for now, and has proven to be something of a liability over the last 12 months.
Deadwood is being cleared out of the position, with Axel Tuanzebe having been released and Eric Bailly closing in on an Old Trafford departure, but some may consider Maguire to fit into this category.
The Red Devils have already lined up a potential replacement for him, should he leave.
The latest on Jean Clair Todibo to Manchester United
As tweeted by the ever-reliable Fabrizio Romano on Monday morning, United have held “contacts” over signing the Frenchman.
Romano goes on to say that the Manchester giants would only make this move if Harry Maguire is to leave, and it remains to be seen whether he will after West Ham United saw a £20 million bid rejected in recent weeks.
