Alvaro Odriozola (Real Sociedad)
Finally, the Daily Mail have also linked United with an interest in £18m-rated Real Sociedad right-back Alvaro Odriozola, who has just celebrated a call-up to the Spain squad for the World Cup.
The 22-year-old looks one of the brightest prospects in Europe in his position and would be ideal as a long-term replacement for Antonio Valencia, who, like Young on the left, is not a natural full-back even if he’s performed admirably in the role.
En esta playa jugaba de pequeño, imaginando que podría ser futbolista. Y a veces los sueños se hacen realidad: debuté con la Real y recibí la llamada de la selección. Quiero dar las gracias a mis compañeros porque sin ellos no habría sido posible. De La Concha al Mundial. ??? pic.twitter.com/vL1eDUjfWP
— Alvaro Odriozola (@alvaroodriozola) May 21, 2018
If United could keep Eric Bailly fit and line up with a back five of David de Gea in goal, Odriozola and Sandro as full-backs, and Bailly partnering Alderweireld in the centre, that would surely be as good as any defence in Europe at the moment.
With De Gea arguably the best goalkeeper in the world right now and Alderweireld consistently one of the top three centre-backs in the Premier League in recent years, United would surely be a different kind of force to be reckoned with next season.