Erik ten Hag is reportedly planning on reinforcing his backline in January. Despite tight financial fair play restrictions, the Dutchman is apparently on the lookout for a new centre-back.
The news will come as a relief for Red Devils legend Paul Scholes, who isn’t convinced by United’s defence, particularly French centre-half Rafael Varane. Since moving from Real Madrid to Old Trafford in 2021, Varane has been crucial to United’s defensive stability.
However, his performances have fallen off this season and his injury record is of real concern. Scholes believes the 30-year-old is looking “sluggish” and is worried by his struggles to stay fit.
“I worry about Varane a bit, he has been one of the very best defenders around, in that same ilk at Real Madrid,” Scholes said on TNT Sports. “I just think his legs are looking sluggish, he can’t keep fit and I worry about him
“Really disappointed. I actually don’t think they played that badly. All the talk before the game was that they couldn’t really score goals and there was a a lack of goals in the team. It is almost as if we disregarded the defensive side of the game and the defensive side of the team it wasn’t good enough they were wide open at times.”
Scholes was speaking after Man Utd’s 3-2 collapse against Galatasaray in the Champions League on Tuesday. Varane was at fault for Kerem Akturkoglu’s equaliser and Mauro Icardi’s winner.
Ten Hag is obviously aware of United’s defensive shortcomings and is looking to bring in another centre-back during the winter transfer window, according to ESPN. The report also goes on to claim that Ten Hag doesn’t feel he can harshly criticise his players as there are concerns about the mental fragility in the dressing room.
Clearly, there is a bad feeling surrounding Man Utd right now and it will take more than a new centre-back to fix it. However, adding fresh motivated bodies into the fold will no doubt benefit the atmosphere around Ten Hag’s disheartened squad.
