Manchester United are often connected with a slew of possible acquisitions, but fans should brace themselves for speculation overload when it comes to centre backs.
Ineos is presently focusing on background hires, such as hiring Southampton’s Jason Wilcox as the club’s new technical director.
Signings will not be a priority just yet, at least not until it is determined who will be United’s manager next season, as Erik ten Hag’s future remains uncertain.
When United does focus on transfers, we expect centre back to be a key area.
Raphael Varane is slated to leave this summer, and investment is required to construct a solid United back line.
Italian media reports that United are shifting their focus away from Juventus and towards Inter Milan.
Tutto Juve claims that United may ‘shift focus’ away from Juventus defender Bremer.
It has been suggested that United may instead sign Inter Milan’s Alessandro Bastoni.
Inter need to sell a player for a lot of money this summer, and Bastoni is a possible candidate.
Bastoni is already in celebratory mode after winning the Serie A title with Inter on Monday night.
The 25-year-old has been essential to Simone Inzaghi’s team this season, but Inter must balance the budget, and United could take advantage.
Bastoni, a muscular defender who is well-known in Italy for his carrying and passing from the back, would be an excellent addition to United’s defence.
Left-footed center backs are about to become a major topic.
The idea was that United would look for a right-footed centre defender to be Lisandro Martinez’s long-term partner.
This summer, United may require both a right and a left footer.
Martinez continues to be sidelined, and United lacks a left-footed centre back capable of replicating his importance in terms of defensive build-up.
Just look at the latest rumors about Jarrad Branthwaite, Max Kilman, Castello Lukeba, and now Bastoni.
All four of those defenders are left-footed, and it can’t be a coincidence that they’re being linked following Martinez’s most recent injury.
The main stumbling block here is that all four would be expensive, and we doubt Ineos would pay such a high price for a left-footed defender simply to compete with Martinez.
Would United then field two left-footed centre-backs? Few people complain about two right-footers, but we rarely see two left-footers.
We believe United will recruit a left-footer this summer, but how much Ineos is willing to pay remains to be seen.