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Since the appointment of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as Manchester United's manager, the team has surely been on a rise. The team finally looks like it has it's identity back and exemplifies what to expect from Manchester United.
With eight wins out of nine games, the team is further justifying claims that the Red Devils are well and truly back. Despite clear improvements, one thing still remains a problem for Ole Gunnar's team. It's the back line, especially the centre back positions.
Take nothing away from the team, but they have only managed to keep four clean sheets in nine games under Ole Gunnar. Against Tottenham and most recently Leicester, if it wasn’t for David de Gea's heroics, the team might have conceded more goals.
David de Gea has really been putting his best foot forward in every game and if only those in front of him would do the same, the team would have more clean sheets. The team is clearly in need of a leader in that back four, someone in the mould of Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool.
This team surely needs someone who can come in and help to solidify their defence.
There are a number of choices that they can pick from, at top Europe clubs. No doubt, none of them will come cheap, but with Manchester United being the powerhouse that they are, that shouldn’t put them off.
Here are a few exceptional centre-halves that Manchester United should definitely be looking at.
#1 Kalidou Koulibaly
Napoli currently boasts one of the best central defenders in world football today in Kalidou Koulibaly. This player can certainly go to any side and improve them vastly.
He has everything that is needed to thrive in the Premier League and that can clearly make him Manchester United’s Virgil van Dijk. We all have seen how Van Dijk has improved Liverpool, so if United can get Koulibaly they can almost certainly be assured of that kind of an effect in their team.
The Senegalese international is brave and strong, both in the air and on the deck; he is physically imposing, and can surely lead a back line.
If Manchester United really want a world-class defender, then the Napoli man should be high up on their list. Though he won’t come cheap, neither did Van Dijk, but he‘d be a worthy investment.
#2 Toby Alderweireld
We all know too well about Toby Alderweireld’s talent and what he can bring to a team. If Manchester United wants an option that is familiar with the Premier League and will hit the ground running almost immediately, then Alderweireld is the man they should keenly look at.
The Belgian is strong, fast and he’s a vocal leader, just what Manchester United need for the team to be complete. He can certainly come into this United side and surely make it even better.
His other major attributes are: he can play the ball from the back – which is something that most modern-day managers want, he’s quick across the grass and can win key battles both in the air and on the floor.
There’s no doubt that he can improve Manchester United's defence, especially playing with the now impressive Victor Lindelof. That will be a partnership that will be reminiscent of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic. That’s a partnership that United have hoped for since those two left the club.
Being that he is also not keen to renew his contract with Spurs, Manchester United should swoop in.
#3 Nikola Milenković
Milenković is currently being touted as one of the best young central defenders in Europe, if not the world today. He has all the attributes that make him one that can thrive in the Manchester United back line.
Nikola Milenković is strong in the tackle, can command the area around him quite well and he also has good speed. With all these attributes combined, if Manchester United can go ahead and get him, he'd surely be a great asset for them.
Currently, the team only has one central defender that they can truly rely on and Nikola Milenković, with all his great features, can provide them with a long term solution in that backline as he's still young.
At only 21-years-old, the young Serbian will surely be seen by most of the United faithful as Nemanja Vidic's replacement. And the fans have surely cried out for a defender in that mould since Vidic left the club.
#4 Raphaël Xavier Varane
We have seen Raphaël Varane for a very long term On the football stage and it sometimes can skip your mind that he's only just 25-years-old. The young French man has won almost all that there is to win in football.
With a World Cup winners' medal and 3 Champions Leagues winners medals among the trophies that the Varane has won. Every team will surely be boosted by the Frenchman as part of their backline and United are not different.
Varane, if Manchester United can somehow convince Real Madrid to sell, will provide the team with a natural ball playing defender. He also can read the game well and his defensive skill are up there with the very best in the business today.
He'll obviously not come cheap even if Real agree to sell, but with the experience he has and his pedigree, he'll be a worthy investment for United. And most of all, he'll slot straight into that Manchester United backline quite easily.
#5 Dan-Axel Zagadou
Another option that Manchester United can take a look at is young Dan-Axel Zagadou. At only 19 years old, he lacks the experience and pedigree to walk straight into the Manchester United back line. Honestly speaking, if Manchester United are to consider a young central defender, they'd look home at Axel Tuanzebe.
But take nothing away from this young French man who has the talent and potential to possibly be one of the best in the world at some point. He already has 13 appearances to his name this season at Borussia Dortmund. If a club like Borussia can trust him to play in three Champions League matches, then he surely does have something special about him.
At Manchester United, he'd probably be the third or fourth choice defender, but that's not an insult to his potential. He'd surely overthrow hos competitors after gaining some experience. That's how much potential the young Dan-Axel Zagadou has in him. He'd also be a great asset because of his versatility as he can slot in at left back as well.
