Since the days of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic, Manchester United have never truly replaced them with an equally as solid and reliable centre-back pairing.
Bar the emergence of Chris Smalling, players like Marcos Rojo and Phil Jones have not stepped up to the plate, and players like Daley Blind and Michael Carrick, as well as youngsters Paddy McNair and Timothy Fosu-Mensah have been deployed there instead.
Every transfer window, fans of the Red Devils have been hoping a world class centre-back is signed.
Too many times since Rio and Vidic retired United have looked weak a the back, in need of that consistent solidity. Smalling, as good as he is, cannot carry the defence on his own, and until new talent is bought in, United will struggle to compete.
So who should be signed to help this flailing defence?
Raphael Varane
One name United are always linked with is Raphael Varane. The 22-year-old Real Madrid defender struggles to push himself into the first team at the Bernabeu, and is behind Sergio Ramos and Pepe in the pecking order.
However, for the French national team, he is a regular starter.
If he were to move to United, he would be staring alongside Smalling for years to come.
Aymeric Laporte
Another name linked with all the big teams is France international Aymeric Laporte.
The 21-year-old Athletic Bilbao star has been consistent for his club, scoring three goals in 23 games and has been impressively solid in defence.
Manchester City are also reportedly interested, so there will be a hope that the red half of Manchester snap him up in the summer.
Marquinhos
PSG’s Marquinhos is the only individual that hasn’t benefited from the signing of fellow countryman David Luiz. With only 19 appearances this season, the 21-year-old is struggling for game time and us unable to get enough football behind him to justify why he should be starting more often.
At such a young age, he does have a long career ahead of him, but he has the talent to be starting every match. He has the Samba flair that United crave, and should consider a move away.
John Stones
If United wanted a more local talent, then Everton’s John Stones would be a great signing. He has struggled for form this season, but the distraction of teams being interested in him has perhaps affected his game.
Alongside the ageing Phil Jagielka, Stones has had to work extra hard to look for consistency. He is in need of a player like Smalling to play alongside, and United would nurture his talent well.
Sergio Ramos
With rumours that he has handed in a transfer request surfacing recently, one player who was linked with United is the experienced Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos.
The Spaniard, who has been at the top of the game for many years, is only 29, and still has a good few years ahead of him. Unlike the aforementioned options, he has experience, but would not be a long term option.
Ramos would be a good signing, but if Man United were to secure his signature it wouldn’t be long before they’d need to enter the market for another world class defender.
