With the Premier League champions now looking likely to end the campaign without any silverware, and with defence having been a huge problem for the Red Devils for much of the campaign, here are five possible centre backs that manager David Moyes should try to sign this summer to help shore up their leaky back line …
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Raphael Varane (Real Madrid)
The silky-smooth France international really hit the headlines at the Santiago Bernabeu when previous boss Jose Mourinho was in charge of the club, however, since the Portuguese was replaced by Carlo Ancelotti in the Spanish capital, the defensive starlet has lost his place at the back to Pepe, placing a big question mark over his future at los Blancos this summer.
And if there is any chance of the Red Devils being able to lure the 20-year-old to Old Trafford next season, whatever the cost of such a transfer, then Moyes should take it.
Eliaquim Mangala (FC Porto)
While many of Europe’s biggest clubs have all been busy scouting the highly rated France international throughout the course of the season, it is the Premier League champions who have been tracking the centre back for longest, with United said to be very confident of being able to persuade the player to swap the Dragao for Old Trafford come the summer.
However, first United must try and negotiate his sale with the Portuguese champions, which anyone who knows about their president Pinto da Costa will understand that will be no easy task.
Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur)
The brilliant Belgium international has already made it very clear that he will be not be remaining at White Hart Lane next season if the north London club fail to finish in the top four of the Premier League come the end of this campaign, and so with it fail to qualify for the Uefa Champions League.
And if that situation were to materialise, then the Red Devils head coach should be the first man on the phone to the versatile defender making him an offer he cannot refuse as the 26-year-old would be a more than welcome addition to the first-team squad at Old Trafford.
Ezequiel Garay (Benfica)
The Red Devils, as well as many of the Continent’s biggest clubs, have all been heavily linked with the rugged and no-nonsense Argentina international in recent years, although with no team ever following that interest up by making a concrete bid for the central defender.
But Moyes should buck that trend this summer and splash the cash in order to lure the coveted 27-year-old to the Theatre of Dreams before one of his main rivals beats him to the punch.
Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund)
The classy Germany international has been one of the standout centre backs in Europe over the course of the past few seasons, however, it is also said that the 25-year-old is keen to try out a new challenge in his career at a club abroad, so United should waste little time in trying to sign the player this summer if that were the case.