Manchester United are rebuilding their midfield, but their defence also needs work

It has been no secret that Manchester United have been spending a vast majority of their resources on rebuilding their midfield following the departure of Casemiro on a free and the injury to Manuel Ugarte in the World Cup that has ruled him out for a considerable while.

Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans have arrived at Old Trafford, and with the club still looking out for alternatives to find a No. 6 who suits the profile new head coach Michael Carrick and INEOS are looking for, that rebuild will continue to take shape.

However, there is an equal — if not bigger — problem that is sitting right under the noses of Carrick & Co. but seems to be blissfully ignored by all and sundry. And that problem is the defensive corps at the Red Devils’ disposal.

Now, one might wonder why that would be a problem, given Man United have a seemingly competitive stockpile of centre-backs, possessing the right blend of youth, potential, experience, and leadership. However, a deep dive into the backline would reveal that this is a group that smacks of injury-prone unavailability and vulnerability against prolific attacks.

While Carrick managed to get the best out of this defence in the 17 games that he was in charge last season, as he prepares to take charge of what will be his first full season, with the added burden of leading his team on four fronts, the defence that will be shouldering the duty of keeping the rearguard safe might demonstrate a certain level of callowness.

The hallmark of every centre-back partnership is surety and confidence. And it does not take a genius to figure out that both of these qualities are not exactly present in United’s current regiment of centre-halves.

Let us begin with Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven, the youngest two. For all the good qualities they possess, it has now come to that stage of their careers where they cannot just bed in and must make the jump to becoming cast-iron and reliable performers.

Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martínez, meanwhile, will start as the first-choice centre-backs. Both of them are skilled and offer ample leadership at the back. However, Maguire is as one-paced as they come, and at 33 he is bound to soon show signs of creaking as well as wear and tear. Martínez, on the other hand, is in his prime and was once hailed by none other than Pep Guardiola as one of the top-five centre-backs in the world following his masterful performance in the 2024 FA Cup final. However, he has barely provided the surety of playing a full season injury-free, and his injury in the World Cup final once again puts his availability at the start of the season under a cloud.

And, after all of them, we come to the most curious case among them all: Matthijs de Ligt. The 26-year-old is arguably the most complete defender in United’s ranks. He has strength, commands his backline, possesses tremendous tactical intelligence, and is a leader of the highest calibre. But he has not played a match since November due to a back injury. And while he is pushing hard ahead of the start of the season, his availability is again a far cry from the surety that Carrick needs at the back.

So, while the Man United centre-back corps does look competitive and of good quality on paper, one cannot make a case for them being as fit for purpose as required for a multitude of reasons.

Of course, there is still time to go in the transfer market, and a lot can happen. But for now, the Man United backline requires work and needs to be addressed as equally as the midfield.