Manchester United to debate adding top defender with shortlist created
By Evan Curnew
Manchester United have dealt with injuries to their backline early in this Premier League campaign. Both Raphael Varane and now Lisandro Martinez have picked up injuries that have caused Erik ten Hag to use Victor Lindelof regularly. Outside of his start in the EFL Cup, defender Harry Maguire has not been much of a factor for ten Hag and is not expected to be.
As The Top Flight had covered over the course of the summer transfer window, Manchester United were interested in signing a new centre-back. Ultimately, no deal went through, mainly because Harry Maguire failed to join West Ham, which in turn prevented a spot opening up on the depth chart. One of the more heavily linked players to United was Benjamin Pavard, who ultimately joined Inter. Another player Manchester United were keen on signing was Nice’s Jean-Clair Todibo, who is not off the club’s radar just yet.
Via his YouTube channel, Fabrizio Romano is reporting that Manchester United are ones to watch for either the January transfer window or next summer in terms of adding a top centre-back. Romano reiterates that a new defender signing still will depend on what happens to Harry Maguire. Along with Todibo, Edmond Tapsoba also remains on the club’s shortlist from the summer transfer window. The Burkina Faso international just recently signed a new contract at Bayer Leverkusen, making a move next year increasingly difficult.
The most important update from Fabrizio Romano is that United is tracking Portuguese talent Antonio Silva. The 19-year-old centre-back has become a staple figure in the backline for Benfica, and he has already been capped five times at the senior level by Portugal. Benfica are likely to command a ridiculous fee for the player, meaning a move to Manchester United would be more than just a depth pick-up but someone the Red Devils view as their future. Concluding his report, Romano says it is expected more players over the course of this season will join the club’s radar for the centre-back position.