Image Credits: Getty Images
Going into the summer transfer window, it’s no surprise that Manchester United are looking to reinforce their defence, especially looking at centre-backs.
This season has been a particularly difficult one for the back line at Old Trafford, with an injury plagued season which saw top defensive options like Luke Shaw, Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane all side-lined at various stages. This alone would be enough to look for other defensive options to provide depth in the squad should injuries be felt next season.
However, on top of this, the Red Devils have a number of key players set to come to the end of their contract in the next year, with Raphael Varane and United veteran Jonny Evans both coming to an end and leaving the club. With these two departing, the only centre-back options remaining are Lisandro Martinez, Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof and Willy Kambwala, the latter three all of which see their contracts expire in July 2025.
With only a year remaining on these contracts, and an overhaul expected at the club, it could be that one or more end up departing so United can capitalise on their transfer fees rather than lose them to other clubs for free upon contract expiration.
Over the recent months, a number of reports have come out on potential centre-backs that United are eyeing up to reset their back line, with targets Jarrad Branthwaite and Jean-Clair Tobido being the front runners to sign to the Premier League club.
The potential of signing Branthwaite has been boosted this week, with news that Everton are valuing the young Englishman as between £60 million to £70 million, however the club have the pressure of needing to offload some main assets in order to meet Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) by the end of June.
Alongside this, Tobido himself has confirmed that talks have been held with Manchester United regarding his future and a potential move to the Premier League.
However, new reports from The Independent announce that United are now looking at Chelsea’s Trevoh Chalobah as an answer to their problems.
Much like the situation with Branwaite at Everton, Chelsea are reportedly considering parting ways with Chalobah in order to, meet PSR and are valuing the 24-year-old at around £25 million.
The young centre-back is a graduate of the Chelsea academy and between 2018 and 2021 went out on back to back loans to Ipswich, Huddersfield and FC Lorient in order to gain first team football which resulted in his promotion to the senior squad upon his return from France in 2021.
Since his promotion to the senior squad, the Englishman has been a key part of Chelsea’s defence, making 80 appearances across all competitions, even managing to bag five goals and one assist in this time. Unfortunately this season has not been as successful for him, having to miss the vast amount of the campaign from injury.
Having gained considerable experience at the top tier leagues in England and France at such a young age, Chalobah certainly looks to be a potential solution to solve United’s struggles, with the new transfer policy rumoured to be put into effect by Sir Jim Ratcliffe of wanting to sign homegrown, young players under the age of 25 for the potential growth, whilst also meeting modern pressing demands.
