Man Utd NOT ‘prioritising’ centre-back despite Maguire and Lindelof issues with Dayot Upamecano transfer target
Sponsored by
MANCHESTER UNITED will not focus on signing a new centre-back despite a rocky start to the season for Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof.
The defensive pair were tormented by Crystal Palace's frontline in a 3-1 defeat at Old Trafford at the weekend.
Speculation that Dayot Upamecano is interesting the Red Devils has increased since, with the centre-back a long-term target for Real Madrid.
However, according to , such a signing is not a priority at this time.
Instead, a right-sided attacker such as Jadon Sancho and a left-back are seen as more integral to bolster the squad.
MAN UTD NEWS LIVE: Click here for the latest United news
Alex Telles of Porto and Ajax's Nicolas Tagliafico are being monitored to improve Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's defence.
It is said that a number of centre-backs have been offered to United this summer, only to be turned away by the Norwegian.
Along with first-choice pair Lindelof and Maguire, the Red Devils have Eric Bailly to call upon.
Youngsters Axel Tuanzebe and Teden Mengi are highly-rated inside the club, although the former has been hit by injury issues.
Marcos Rojo and the injured Phil Jones are reportedly up for sale but the club have been unable to find a buyer.
Chris Smalling could return to the fold if he is not let go, with Roma and Inter Milan chasing the 30-year-old.
It has been reported that a new centre-back may only arrive if Solskjaer's fringe players are moved on.
And United fans may be hoping for such a scenario given the awful reviews for Maguire and Lindelof's performance versus Palace.
Arsenal legend Ian Wright told Premier League Productions: "I think you look at Maguire and Lindelof, for me you’ve got to target them now as much as you can.
"People are talking about who Man United might buy, you talk about forwards - at the moment, they’ve got to start focusing on that centre-back pairing.
"If you get any of those two isolated in any situation, you’re probably going to get something out of it.
Sign up to play Dream Team 2020/21 now
- It's completely free to play
- Play the traditional Season game as well as Draft
- There's a hefty jackpot up for grabs across 2020/21
Most read in Football
";I thought some of Maguire’s positioning was poor and Lindelof, just weak, weak in certain situations. They’ve got to sort out that centre-half pairing for me."
Meanwhile, former Palace chairman Simon Jordan likened Maguire to an ocean liner.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
He told talkSPORT: " were dreadful. Harry Maguire turns like an ocean liner and you see that in an instant – an £80million footballer who can’t move.
“Whether that’s psychological because he’s got all the baggage in the world or whether he needs a centre-half who’s quicker and can accommodate some of the things he can’t do."