Manchester United are always linked with so many potential signings, but fans should prepare themselves for speculation overload when it comes to centre backs.
Ineos are currently focusing on background appointments, such as landing Southampton’s Jason Wilcox as the club’s new technical director.
Signings won’t be a focus just yet, at least without knowing who the United manager next season will be amid questions over Erik ten Hag’s future.
When United do focus on transfers, we would anticipate centre back being a key area.
Raphael Varane is expected to leave this summer and investment is needed to build a strong United back line.
A host of names are already being linked and the Italian media believe that United are now switching focus from Juventus towards Inter Milan…
Manchester United linked with Alessandro Bastoni
Tutto Juve claim that United could ‘change target’ away from Juventus defender Bremer.
It’s suggested that United may instead go for Inter Milan’s Alessandro Bastoni.
Inter need to sell a player for big money this summer and it hasn’t been ruled out that Bastoni could be that player.
Bastoni is currently in celebration mode having won the Serie A title with Inter on Monday night.
The 25-year-old has been vital for Simone Inzaghi’s side this season but Inter need to balance the books and United could pounce.
A strong defender who has become known in Italy for his carrying and passing out from the back, Bastoni would be an enormous capture for United’s back line.
Left-footed centre backs about to be a big focus
The expectation was that United would focus on finding a right-footed centre back to serve as the long-term partner to Lisandro Martinez.
Well, United may now need both a right-footer and a left-footer this summer.
Martinez just keeps getting injured and United just don’t have a left-footed centre back who can replicate his importance in terms of build-up play at the back.
Just look at the recent rumours; Jarrad Branthwaite, Max Kilman, Castello Lukeba and now Bastoni.
All four of those defenders are left-footed and it surely can’t be a coincidence that such players are being linked after Martinez’s latest injury.
The only pause we have here is that all four would cost big money and we’re not sure that Ineos would commit such a huge fee to a left-footed defender just to be competition for Martinez.
Would United then play two left-footed centre backs? Few people complain at two right-footers, but it’s not often that we see two left-footers.
We think United will end up going for a left-footer this summer but just how much Ineos are prepared to spend on that signing remains to be seen.