Varane replaced and Evans decision made – what Manchester United centre-back options could look like next season

Man Utd may require two center backs instead of the one they hope to sign this summer.

Raphael Varane and Jonny Evans of Manchester United (Image: 2023 Getty Images)

Manchester United will make signing a center-back their top priority this summer, but they may wind up needing to sign two instead.

The club is interested in Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite. They are also rumored to be interested in Benfica youngster António Silva, Sporting Lisbon star Gonçalo Inácio, and Juventus star Gleison Bremer.

Bremer is the eldest member of the quartet at age 26, the other three being younger than 23. This summer, the team hopes to bolster its defense by adding younger players who will hopefully provide them with many years of elite service.

It’s a dynamic and intricate situation nonetheless. This summer, United plans to add a full-back, a central midfielder, and another attacker in addition to another center-back.

As a result, finances will be very tight, and player sales will directly affect how many new players they can sign and will also significantly increase their transfer budget.

In light of the Premier League’s sustainability and profitability regulations, United plans to offload enough players from its roster to break double figures during the summer transfer window. They also want to be more aggressive in the seller’s market.

That means that, based on how many players they are able to let go of, United will have to target signing just one center-back at first, regardless of their budget.

In addition, if the club is confident in signing a second central defender, one of Harry Maguire or Victor Lindelof could be sold to increase the transfer budget. Raphael Varane is expected to be sold if the right offer comes in for him this summer.

Varane is one of their highest paid players, so it makes sense to try to cash in while his value as a club asset increases. However, this season, he has been one of their most dependable defenders, and at his best, he is still regarded as their best player.

To truly let him go would still be a harsh call, and this summer, United cannot act too sentimentally. Although Maguire has been outstanding for the majority of the season, he still appears to be at odds with their preferred style of play and has succeeded in part because of how much last-ditch defense he has had to perform.

Lindelof is a highly skilled player on the team who is willing to contribute wherever he is needed. Although he will eventually want a more steady role—something he simply won’t get at United—those are invaluable qualities.

Lisandro Martinez has already missed 44 games due to three different injuries since joining the team, so their main goal is to find him a long-term partner at the center of the defense. However, they are also cautious about the possibility that they will have to sign a more qualified backup.

Luke Shaw is capable of covering at center back if needed, but even he has experienced injury problems this year. They can’t really afford to lose another defensive option this summer, so Jonny Evans may be rewarded with a new contract. Willy Kambwala is the only true academy option to bolster their squad.

Like Lindelof, Evans is a valuable member of the team and would be prudent to have on hand as a dependable backup, but it’s also important to note that it would be extremely desperate if they continued to depend on him for an additional campaign.

The need for two new defenders could quickly turn United’s desire into a need.

Potential options for United’s center backs in the upcoming campaign:

SELL – Lindelof and Varane

KEEP: Evans, Martinez, and Maguire

COVER: Shaw and Kambwala

BUY: Branthwaite and an additional