Man Utd’s five-man transfer shortlist revealed including Kounde, Varane and Mings to fix leaky defence

MANCHESTER UNITED have drawn up a shortlist of centre-backs to try and sign this summer, according to reports.

Boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wants to recruit a partner for £80million captain Harry Maguire before next season.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wants to recruit a new partner for skipper Harry MaguireJules Kounde is on United’s shortlist

This term Victor Lindelof has predominantly been selected, with Eric Bailly and Axel Tuanzebe having also appeared.

If United are to win the trophies that Solskjaer, 47, desires – those three just won’t cut it.

An incredibly ambitious move for Sergio Ramos has been mooted, as well as RB Leipzig’s Ibrahima Konate – but ESPN believe that United have drawn up a five-man shortlist that does NOT contain either.

So let’s take a look at who is on the shopping list.

JULES KOUNDE

Sevilla’s Jules Kounde may be relatively slight in stature at 5ft 10in, but he makes up for that in defensive nous.

The Frenchman, 22, has made 70 appearances for Sevilla since joining from Bordeaux in 2019 for around £22million – and the fee would likely be a lot higher this time around as his contract possesses a £65m release clause.

TYRONE MINGS

Man mountain Tyrone Mings has turned heads since re-entering the Premier League with Aston Villa.

The 27-year-old has established himself in the England squad, and could form a partnership for club and country with Maguire.

Tyrone Mings is one of the Premier League’s top defenders

RAPHAEL VARANE

Raphael Varane is an indispensable member of Zinedine Zidane’s side, having starred across both of his compatriot’s spells in charge.

But with just a year left on his contract come the summer, and with Real Madrid saving up for Kylian Mbappe, perhaps Varane could be tempted to Old Trafford.

Raphael Varane could boot himself out of Real Madrid

David Carmo has attracted plenty of interest

DAVID CARMO

Braga defender David Carmo, 21, has been dubbed ‘the new Virgil van Dijk’ by some, having impressed for the Portuguese side.

And United may try and stop the Reds potentially partnering him with the real thing, by prising him away in the summer.

DAYOT UPAMECANO

Dayot Upamecano, 22, has been linked with many top clubs in Europe including Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Liverpool after impressing for RB Leipzig.

A £40m release clause is expected to come into effect in the summer, with United hoping to move to the front of the queue for his signature.

Upamecano will be available for £40million this summer

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