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.
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.
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.
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.
