Man Utd’s four-man centre-back shortlist for 2024

Carlo Garganese

• 15 Oct 2023 15:34 BST
• 3 min read

Man Utd have four names on their centre-back shortlist for 2024, Fabrizio Romano has revealed.

Romano reports that once United offload one of their current central defenders next year, like Harry Maguire, they will move to sign a replacement in that position.

“Maguire’s departure could be important as I’ve previously reported that United have plans to sign a new centre-back in 2024,” Romano said in his Caught Offside column.

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“The names I’ve already mentioned are Antonio Silva, Jean-Clair Todibo, Goncalo Inacio and Edmond Tapsoba, but these are difficult targets for January.”

Antonio Silva has emerged as one of the most coveted young centre backs at Benfica in the last year or so, and the Portuguese side plan to sell him at the end of the season.

Todibo was once regarded as a wonderkid at Barcelona but after failing to make the grade there has now has rebuilt his career at Nice.

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Inacio has been linked to numerous Premier League clubs over the last seasons since establishing himself at Sporting Lisbon.

Meanwhile, Tapsoba has emerged as one of the Bundesliga’s best centre backs at Bayer Leverkusen and is also admired by Arsenal.

United plan to upgrade the centre of their defence as manager Erik ten Hag is far from content with the performances of Maguire and Victor Lindelof, both of whom could leave in 2024.

There is also concern at the club with the constant injuries suffered by Raphael Varane ever since he arrived in 2021 from Real Madrid.

United have endured a very poor start to the 2023-24 season, with the club losing six of their opening 11 games in all competitions.

A leaky defence has been a key reason for their struggles, conceding 19 goals in 11 games in all competitions.