Manchester United might not need to sign a centre-back this summerManchester United might not need to sign a centre-back this summer
Manchester United might not need to sign a centre-back this summer | Manchester United via Getty Images
Man Utd will lose two central defenders this summer but they might not need to sign another one.
Manchester United are expected to lose two senior centre-backs this summer and they might not sign anyone to replace them. It sounds like a pretty alarming statement, but with money tight and more pressing priorities elsewhere, it might not be such an issue.
Victor Lindelof is expected to leave the club as a free agent when his contract expires at the end of the campaign and Jonny Evans is likely to retire after an injury-ridden campaign. That ultimately deprives Ruben Amorim of two options, though he has had to cope without both of them for plenty of the season already and won't necessarily miss them as much as you'd expect.
Whether United decide to sign a centre-back could all hinge on if they qualify for the Champions League and have a minimum extra eight matchdays added to their schedule. Another key factor is fitness. Luke Shaw could be back by the end of the season and would offer an extra option while Lisandro Martinez faces a long rehabilitation process after his successful surgery.
Then there is Ayden Heaven, the latest United breakthrough star who has already shown why he could be considered a key first-team player next season.
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Manchester United might already have their replacement centre-back
A few eyebrows were raised when Ayden Heaven was unveiled as a senior Manchester United player earlier in the year. The 18-year-old had only played 10 minutes of professional football for Arsenal and was expected to gain some playing time at youth level before being thrown into the first-team frame.
It looked to be the case when he made his first appearance for the U21s last month, but as United's injury crisis worsened he quickly climbed the pecking order. He almost went under the radar when he made his debut against Fulham in the draining FA Cup defeat and gained prominence with an effortless performance on his Premier League debut against former side Arsenal.
Fast forward a matter of weeks, Heaven has still only made four appearances for the first team and only played over an hour once, yet his impact has been so big that his recent injury has been viewed as a huge loss. The teenage defender was spotted wearing a protective boot after the Leicester win, though it is hoped he could return to action early next month with the injury not as severe as first feared.
Heaven not only has the physicality to cope with the demands of the Premier League, but he also has the maturity to handle the pressure of playing for United. In each of his performances so far he has caught the eye with his casual demeanour and Ruben Amorim has even joked that the teenager is almost 'too relaxed' at times. There is a genuine concern there, though his laidback attitude should stand him in good stead when he is faced with the inevitable setbacks that every top defender faces.
What it does mean is he has already proved himself worth further chances even when the injury crisis is resolved. Heaven is the most logical replacement for Martinez for the remainder of the season and possibly even the rest of the year, by that time he might have even ousted the World Cup winner for good from the starting lineup.
Add into the mix the possible return of Luke Shaw as an auxiliary centre-back and Noussair Mazraoui’s impressive performances there, and United might already have their defensive options sorted for next season. Heaven might even have them sorted for the next decade.
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