Manchester United don almost fit plan for Champions League football after favourable results for midweek. Di Reds now sit eight points clear of sixth place Brighton with maximum 15 points left to play for.
While returning to European football top table na achievement, United no fit settle. Dem make conscious decision to keep squad small dis season because no European football. But di squad depth must address for summer if di Reds go compete for Champions League.
Dat na why United dey link with new defensive signing. Tottenham centre-back Micky van de Ven dey on United radar, whether Spurs demoted or not. Di 25-year-old go weigh im options dis summer and di Reds dey concerned about Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez fitness after injury plagued seasons.
If Van de Ven join, United go get different defensive options. With Diogo Dalot and Luke Shaw likely remain first choice full-backs, MEN Sport don look at five best ways dia back four fit start August.
Next season, United fit begin with back four wey Michael Carrick currently prefer, availability dependent. Leny Yoro don endure rollercoaster season but don hit im stride again for recent weeks. E easy to forget say im only 20 and still get im best years ahead.
Alongside Yoro fit be Harry Maguire. During di Reds extended break, Maguire don get well-deserved new deal thanks to im brilliant performances since Carrick return. Di only problem with dis defence na say United must transition away from Maguire over next year. Im no go dey club much longer and di Reds need to build defence for future.
Alternatively, United fit go for Dutch connection for back. Van de Ven preference na to play on left side and De Ligt go happily accommodate dat. De Ligt na one of United best players for first half of dis season before back injury halt im momentum. While di duo don feature alongside each oda three times for dia country, dem never partner as centre-backs.
Van de Ven don dey preferred at left-back due to Netherlands expansive defensive options. Question mark also surround De Ligt as im prepare to return after lengthy absence.
Dere also argument to suggest Martinez should involve for starting line-up. Im performance against Erling Haaland earlier dis year na phenomenal. De Ligt fit partner Martinez too, as Yoro fit, but im best partnership don be with Maguire dis season. Like De Ligt, question marks dey about di Argentine fitness. Im future also dey up for air considering im contract expire for 2027.
One man wey dem unfairly leave out so far na Ayden Heaven. United teenager don steal show against Chelsea last weekend and dey develop into brilliant centre-back. Alongside Yoro, United fit choose to pick inexperienced defence to lead dem next season. Fans go back dis approach and e also fit di mantra of both di club and Ineos.
However, di risk na to rely on Heaven so soon for im career. Im clearly get great potential but United fit want am to play for rotation until im reach im 20s.
Dat leave us with di strongest option – pairing Yoro with Van de Ven. Di Frenchman fit only be year older than Heaven but im don dey play first-team football for longer. Yoro earn comparisons to Raphael Varane before joining United and you fit see dat with im composure. Alongside Van de Ven, im go develop well.
Maguire need to be back up option next season while De Ligt and Martinez get work to do to stake claim. Heaven dey poised to be regular starter but 2026/27 too soon for dat.
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