Five players United should’ve signed to avert their defensive crisis.
With Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal having been forced to call up youngsters Tom Thorpe and Paddy McNair to the first team squad for today’s game against West Ham United, the common wisdom that United did not strengthen sufficiently at the back this summer seems to have been further proven.
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It didn’t have to the case, however, with these five bargain central defenders all having moved this summer and who would’ve been within reach for the Red Devils:
Ezequiel Garay
Argentinian centre back Ezequiel Garay had regularly been linked with top European clubs, including United, thanks to a successful spell in the Portuguese league with Benfica – but when he finally moved on this summer, it was to Russian side Zenit St. Petersburg for just £12 million.
Joleon Lescott
Whilst not of the class to offer a long-term solution to United’s defensive issues, England international Joleon Lescott was available on a free transfer this summer after being released by local rivals City and has both the experience and ability to have offered some cover to a defence clearly lacking in depth and experience. As it was, Lescott joined West Bromwich Albion.
Nicolas Otamendi
United are now being linked with a move for Valencia centre back Nicolas Otamendi, who has a huge buyout clause of £40m, but the Red Devils could’ve signed the impressive Argentina defender for just £9.75m this summer – the fee for which he moved from FC Porto to the La Liga club.
Bruno Martins Indi
A player well-known to van Gaal, centre back Bruno Martins Indi was one of a number of impressive performers for the Dutchman at the World Cup this summer, but despite some rumours linking him with a move to Old Trafford, Martins Indi eventually departed Feyenoord for just £6m, joining FC Porto.
Matthias Ginter
Regarded as the best player to have emerged from the particularly fruitful youth system at Bundesliga club Freiburg, Matthias Ginter was loosely linked with United, amongst other Premier League clubs, but was snapped up by Borussia Dortmund for a fee of around £8m. Ginter has endured a slow start at Signal Iduna Park, but that is nothing compared to the disaster area that is the United defence.