The one area Manchester United need to improve – and the potential transfers to do the job

Jose Mourinho could do with a new defender (Picture: Getty)

It looks increasingly like Manchester United won’t be making a late flurry in the January
transfer window, but it’s pretty clear Jose Mourinho has been after some new defenders this month.
There have been plenty of potential targets mooted in the press, with United understandably unconvinced by their current options after an inconsistent first half of the season.

Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo have been a surprise success as a pairing lately, though looked a little more vulnerable once the quality of the Red Devils’ opponents improved. And that’s without even mentioning his clear distrust of full-backs Luke Shaw and Matteo Darmian.

Mourinho does still have time to pull something out of the hat late on this January, so here’s a look at five realistic defender signings that he should be trying to bring to Old Trafford…

Victor Lindelof

Victor Lindelof has been one of United’s main targets this January (Picture: Getty)

This one’s been on again, off again for much of the last month, and it’s still no clearer if Swedish defender Victor Lindelof will be joining United this season.

A hugely talented youngster, Lindelof has caught Mourinho’s eye in Portugal and drawn some comparisons with Red Devils legend Nemanja Vidic.

Still, given United’s improved recent form, they may be a little happier to put this one off until the summer, when Lindelof would likely be available for a slightly more reasonable fee on the count of not leaving his club in the middle of the season.