Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer appears to need another centre-back. Victor Lindelof, Harry Maguire and Eric Bailly have all struggled for consistency this term, with the trio again toiling in the 2-2 draw with Leicester on Saturday. However, Axel Tuanzebe could be the answer to their defensive woes if the youngster can stay fit.
United have conceded 23 goals from 14 Premier League matches this term - the highest in the entire top half of the Premier League table.
Maguire has improved of late but still seems to be struggling after a turbulent summer which saw him arrested in Greece.
Lindelof has his moments but the Sweden international still seems to be a liability at times, often caught out of position or beaten in the air.
And Bailly, while he offers an aggressive approach, has been unable to truly kick on since regaining full fitness.
In Tuanzebe, however, United will hope they’ve got a player who can help them swerve signing a centre-back.
Solskjaer knows his side need reinforcements at the back. Despite spending over £150m on their current back four, they’re still a far cry from the Red Devils teams of old.
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Where there’s now Maguire and Lindelof, there once was Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand. Instead of Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Luke Shaw, there used to be Gary Neville and Patrice Evra.
In Tuanzebe, however, United are hopeful.
Solskjaer rates the 23-year-old highly, giving him the captaincy last term over Paul Pogba for a Carabao Cup showdown against Rochdale at Old Trafford.
Since then, injuries have prevented him from kicking on.
But, in his two full matches played this season, Tuanzebe has caught the eye.
He was majestic in the 2-1 Champions League win over PSG, barely giving Kylian Mbappe a sniff as the Red Devils took all three points at the Parc des Princes.
And Tuanzebe stood tall as United beat Everton 2-0 last week, managing to prevent Dominic Calvert-Lewin from getting on the scoresheet.
Against Leicester, it was his unfortunate own goal that gave the Foxes a point.
But Tuanzebe has still shown he can be a future United regular and, if he does, that can stop the Glazers from splashing the cash on a new centre-back.
In any case, it appears United won’t be active this January.
David Alaba has been deemed too expensive amid reports Solskjaer was interested in bringing the Bayern Munich star to Old Trafford in the New Year.
And any decision on Dayot Upamecano is instead likely to be made in the summer, with the RB Leipzig star ready to choose his next club at that time.