United's back-four have looked shaky all season, with Chris Smalling and Phil Jones the main culprits in recent outings
GAMES between Manchester United and Newcastle United rarely lack for drama or narrative and Sunday’s 1-0 win for the Magpies was no exception.
The victory, Newcastle’s first at St James’ Park since October, means Jose Mourinho’s side have now lost as many Premier League games this season, five, as they managed in the whole of last season and find themselves in a battle to secure second place.
Chief culprits for Man United in a below-par display on Tyneside were centre-backs Chris Smalling and Phil Jones.
The duo have had plenty of ups and downs during their United careers but, after another haphazard showing, their time at Old Trafford must be coming to an end.
With that in mind, we asked our friends at to identify some defensive upgrades for Mourinho ahead of the summer transfer window.
The Tottenham defender has established himself as one - if not the - best Premier League centre-halves in recent years.
In fact, Atletico Madrid must be kicking themselves for letting the Belgian join Southampton on loan for the 2014/15 campaign.
The former Ajax youngster was so impressive at St Mary’s that Spurs nipped in to sign Alderweireld for just £11.5m despite the threat of legal action from the Saints who felt they had first refusal on a permanent deal.
Contracted to Tottenham until 2020, Alderweireld has a clause in his contract which means he can leave for just £25m in the summer of 2019 – assuming he hasn’t re-signed before then.
That makes the North Londoners vulnerable and with negotiations at a stalemate, they could be forced to sell before losing him on the cheap.
Signed by Real Madrid as an 18-year-old when Mourinho was manager at the Bernabeu, the classy young Frenchman cost €10m from French club Lens, signing a six-year deal.
He quickly proved he was good enough to play for the first team and established himself as a key component in Real’s backline as they won La Liga in his first season in Spain.
Although injury has interrupted his progress since, Varane is thought of as one of Europe’s best young centre-backs.
He has been a Manchester United transfer target before, during the 2016/17 campaign, but rejected the chance to move to Old Trafford following Mourinho’s appointment. A second approach isn’t out of the question.
Reportedly a Chelsea transfer target last summer when the Blues were in the market for a centre-half, the Napoli defender has been one of Serie A’s outstanding centre-backs for several seasons.
The Senegalese international has been at his best once more this term, helping the Partenopei to the Serie A summit as they attempt to halt Juventus’ dominance at seven consecutive title wins.
However, despite reported interest in his services, the 26-year-old seems intent on staying in Naples.
“For my family and the fans, and if the contract was good, I’d have no problem signing, staying forever,” Koulibaly told Gazetta dello Sport last month.
Another centre-back catching the eye in Serie A is Lazio’s De Vrij.
The 26-year-old is reportedly on the verge of agreeing a new contract in the Eternal City – but it would not guarantee his long-term future at the Stadio Olimpico.
The new contract will, according to reports in Italy, include a release clause which would make the Netherlands international available at a knock-down price of just £22m.
That will put United, and others, on red alert.
De Vrij, who moved to Lazio from Feyenoord after the 2014 World Cup, has been subject of Liverpool transfer rumours in the past and has also been linked with Chelsea.
Leonardo Bonucci’s move from Juventus to Milan last summer should have opened the door for Rugani to get more minutes in Turin.
However, the 23-year-old still finds himself behind veteran pair Giorgio Chiellini, 33 and Andrea Barzagli, 36 and the in-form Medhi Benatia.
The Italy international appears to finally run out of patience at his lack of minutes – having made just 11 Serie A starts this season – and wants to leave the reigning Serie A champions this summer.
And, according to agent Davide Torchia, he is an Arsenal transfer target. "Daniele’s doing well, I’m happy for him,” he told Radio Sportiva.
"Arsenal? They didn’t launch any attempts for him. They expressed a liking for him but we have respect for Juventus."
