Marquinhos and the elite centre-backs Man Utd could replace Maguire with

FT Desk

• Updated: 23 May 2023 08:55 CDT
• 4 min read

Manchester United captain Harry Maguire has come in for heavy criticism in recent weeks, with one of his predecessors at centre-back, Rio Ferdinand, suggesting that the club should sign Marquinhos from PSG.

United spent £80 million (€95m) on Maguire in signing him from Leicester in 2019, and circa £40m (€48m) on Ferdinand in acquiring him from Leeds 20 years ago, so they're not afraid to spend a pretty penny on centre-backs.

Antonio Rudiger leads a list of players out of contract in the summer, but if United chose to spend big once again, who might they go for?

Marquinhos

Marquinhos is under contract at PSG, whom he captains, until 2024, with a reported extension until 2026 in the offing. Sometimes used at right-back in his early days in the French capital, the Brazilian has since blossomed into Ligue 1's pre-eminent centre-back.

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But with Sergio Ramos due an injury-free season at the Parc des Princes, and Presnel Kimpembe, Thilo Kehrer and Abdou Diallo also on the books, perhaps PSG could be persuaded to part with their defensive stalwart?

Danilo Pereira even lined up at centre-back with Marquinhos in midfield under Thomas Tuchel two short seasons ago. Similar tinkering from a potential Mauricio Pochettino successor at PSG, and Marquinhos might just become more available than meets the eye.

Matthijs de Ligt

Big things were expected of Matthijs de Ligt when he broke through at Ajax, helping the record Dutch champions to the UEFA Champions League semi-finals in the 2018/19 season at the tender age of 19.

Injuries have disrupted his progress since he swapped Amsterdam for Turin, although, he has managed to surpass the 100-appearance mark in three seasons at Juventus.

Juve are reportedly ready to cash in, though, with veterans Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini still trusted to do a job at the heart of their defence. United could have Bayern Munich and Barcelona for competition, but it could be worth a try.

Milan Skriniar

Milan Skriniar has been linked with Man Utd before, with the big Slovak telling his nation's FA in 2018 that: "Manchester United? I heard from them, and it made me proud. But I'm even happier that Inter decided to reject it and that they believe so much in me."

Four years later and Inter continue to believe in Skriniar, who has played more minutes than any other outfield player at the San Siro. But might he be ready for another move after more than 200 Nerazzurri appearances?

Jules Kounde

Perhaps the best centre-back in football who doesn't play for a serial Champions League club, Jules Kounde has nonetheless enjoyed considerable success as the fulcrum of the current Sevilla team, lifting the 2020 UEFA Europa League title with them at the end of his second season.

Sevilla only had to part ways with €25m - a relative snip in the modern climate - for Kounde's services when they acquired him from first club Bordeaux, and United would have to pay at least twice that to sign a talented 23-year-old who's contract runs until 2024.

Chelsea have also been linked, but United could steal a march on the London club now they have been hit with a transfer embargo.

Dayot Upamecano

Dayot Upamecano is a physical specimen, one who famously outpaced the turbo-charged Timo Werner in training when the pair were RB Leipzig teammates. Werner left the Red Bull Arena for Chelsea in 2020, with Upamecano following coach Julian Nagelsmann to Bayern Munich the following year.

However, the young Frenchman has endured a dip in form - not quite to Maguire proportions - and has found himself on the bench in recent weeks as the Borussia Dortmund-bound Niklas Sule took his place at the heart of Bayern's defence.

A 23-year-old with a four-year contract still to run, Upamecano would still set United back some, but he is already a France international teammate of Raphael Varane's, and Varane could be key to unlocking Upamecano's potential at club level.