A progressive summer transfer window is at the forefront of the Manchester United fanbase, as an Ineos sporting hierarchy looks to revolutionise their midfield assembly.
However, as is normally the case within a demanding supporter base, additional positions are coveted, with numerous names touted in attack and defence.
Although cases for wide players are relatively straightforward, conversations regarding central defenders are a bit more complex.
Harry Maguire has signed on for at least another year, and the progression of Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven continues to blossom because of the unfortunate situations with Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez.
That’s not even considering the academy, with a plethora of talented options vying for their opportunity in the first team.
So, is there truly space for another defensive name at Old Trafford, and if not, who would have to make way?
Should Manchester United be targeting defence this summer?
When discussing the various characteristics of players, one of the lines I regularly return to relates to availability, and how this is the primary attribute for any squad member.
This very factor is one of Bruno Fernandes’ finest qualities, with the Portuguese seemingly unfazed by 99.9% of aggravations encountered.
While I am one of De Ligt’s biggest supporters, and I was genuinely delighted to see his efforts at Carrington on Thursday, November’s Player of the Month has not featured this year.
The 26-year-old has endured a checkered history with unfortunate setbacks while at Ajax, Juventus and Bayern Munich, and carried that with him en route to Manchester, missing nine fixtures during his debut season.
His latest setback, an untimely back issue, has left the Dutchman absent for 149 days at the time of writing, or 21 games, and we are unaware if he will return before the end of the campaign.
Few will disregard his quality and leadership on the field, but that is little consolation as the third-highest earner within the current active squad.
Martinez is a slightly different story, given his low physio time leading up to a dream move to Manchester in 2022.
Regardless, the World Cup-winning defender has been plagued by various setbacks throughout his Premier League journey: from a fractured metatarsal in 2023 to an MCL injury in 2024, and a torn ACL the following year.
Like De Ligt, Licha is one of the smoothest operators across any defensive line, and his ball-playing abilities transform the fortunes of United’s transitional phases.
But there is little to take from this if the Argentine is sitting on the sidelines, and as much as I value his place in the starting XI, the figures do not lie.
| Year signed | Number of injuries | Number of games missed | |
| Harry Maguire | 2019 | 12 | 59 |
| Lisandro Martinez | 2022 | 7 | 96 |
| Matthijs de Ligt | 2024 | 4 | 30 |
| Leny Yoro | 2024 | 4 | 32 |
| Ayden Heaven | 2025 | 1 | 10 |
Truthfully, you could look at the above chart and believe David de Gea’s one-time statement about the club being cursed, given the magnitude of injuries encountered across the board.
Even Heaven, a sprightly teenager, has succumbed to a significant layoff in a little over a year since making the move north.
Nonetheless, there is only so much we can gather through data, and a newly constructed medical department with state-of-the-art facilities has revolutionised the heart of Carrington’s brand-new facility.
Having spent time with several well-placed sources leading up to this article, we’re advised of a growing confidence in the conditioning of every player and the benefits attributed to league-leading machinery.
There are obvious concerns about season-affecting situations, and trends with individual names are well-documented.
Still, the likes of De Ligt and Martinez have not been written off by any stretch of the imagination.
But as is the case with every sector at the football club, finances are a major concern, and salaries will dictate the standing of every individual, regardless of reputation.
| Figures via Capology | Age | Contract expiry | Annual salary | Weekly salary |
| Harry Maguire | 33 | June 30 2027 * | £6,240,000 | £120,000 |
| Lisandro Martinez | 28 | June 30 2027 * | £6,240,000 | £120,000 |
| Matthijs de Ligt | 26 | June 30 2029 * | £10,140,000 | £195,000 |
| Leny Yoro | 20 | June 30 2029 * | £5,980,000 | £115,000 |
| Ayden Heaven | 19 | June 30 2029 * | £1,300,000 | £25,000 |
Club option for an additional year highlighted by *
Both Yoro and Heaven are rated highly internally, and many officials believe they can develop a long-standing partnership at the heart of United’s defence.
Maguire is impacting fixtures today and can provide leadership and guidance within a relatively young dressing room moving forward, particularly for the aforementioned duo.
Martinez overcame his horrific cruciate ligament injury and looked like better days were ahead, until another calf issue led to five further games sidelined. With his contract set to expire next summer, a crucial period awaits.
That leaves De Ligt, and a deal that has years remaining.
As previously mentioned, his quality is undeniable when available. Still, a huge salary and mounting medical contributions are obviously concerning.
We’re told there is presently no desire for a sale, and an understanding that this would prove difficult to achieve when considering his ongoing battle for fitness.
It’s easy to sit back and crave summer additions without consideration of existing commitments and a precarious financial scenario.
Like any team with aspirations of perennial success across multiple competitions, a well-constructed squad will always trump a strong starting XI.
I’m sure that Michael Carrick, or any potential permanent appointment, would crave four or five fit and firing options to give several avenues across the backline. Regardless, some things are easier said than done.
Given the existing panel and the ability for Luke Shaw and Noussair Mazraoui to provide a helping hand when necessary, United appear to be stronger than many acknowledge at the back.
Should the likes of Nottingham Forest star Murillo be targeted, I do not doubt that one of the existing options must depart.
While this is not impossible, I’m sure you can now see how challenging that may be within today’s framework.
Let us know your thoughts in the comments or across our social channels – photo by Alfie Cosgrove/News Images via depositphotos.com.
Injury metrics via Transfermarkt.
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