{"id":1006221,"date":"2026-06-05T03:50:29","date_gmt":"2026-06-05T03:50:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/1006221\/"},"modified":"2026-06-05T03:50:29","modified_gmt":"2026-06-05T03:50:29","slug":"keep-or-sell-all-of-manchester-uniteds-defenders-assessed-as-brutal-call-made","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/1006221\/","title":{"rendered":"Keep or sell? All of Manchester United’s defenders assessed as brutal call made"},"content":{"rendered":"

Our reporters have had their say on whether Man United should keep or sell the defenders currently at the club.<\/p>\n

Our writers shared their opinions on the backline.(Image: Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Manchester United are planning to overhaul their midfield in the summer transfer window. Casemiro has departed after four years at the club, and there is recognition that investment is required to inject new life into midfield.<\/p>\n

The defensive department at United<\/a> could be boosted by a left-back signing this summer, but it could be argued that a new centre-back is needed after a campaign in which United’s centre-backs picked up injuries.<\/p>\n

Michael Carrick<\/a> started Noussair Mazraoui alongside Ayden Heaven against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, for example. United won 1-0 in the capital, but makeshift backlines are more likely to be exposed in a season when the schedule returns to normal, given the Reds’ Champions League commitments.<\/p>\n

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    With that in mind, our writers have given their ‘keep or sell’ verdict on the club’s current defenders:<\/p>\n

    Diogo Dalot<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Tyrone Marshall: Dalot faced some criticism from supporters in the first half of last season and he still isn’t particularly popular, but he was steady back at right-back and his contribution to build-up play is underrated. Keep<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Steven Railston: Dalot was quietly decent in the last few months of the season. It’s not fashionable to praise Dalot, but he is a consistent performer when he plays as a right-back in a back four. Keep.<\/strong><\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

    Dalot has been solid under Carrick.(Image: Getty Images)<\/p>\n

    Noussair Mazraoui<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Tyrone Marshall: A difficult season last year and has clearly lost the battle to play at right-back, but offers experience and can play both full-back roles. Worth another season at least. Keep<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Steven Railston: It was a forgettable season for Mazraoui, who played just over 1,000 minutes. However, he has played in eight different positions during his time at the club, and his versatility is handy in a busy season. Keep.<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Matthijs de Ligt<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Tyrone Marshall: Feels almost impossible to sell him this summer, but needs a big year next year. Clearly an excellent centre-back there, and still only 26 years old. Could play a big role and be Maguire’s successor if he stays fit. But if his form drifts, there is a problem. Keep<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Steven Railston: De Ligt last played against Crystal Palace on November 30. Although he was producing the finest performances of his United career before picking up that injury, I’d cut ties if it were possible this summer. The obvious problem is that nobody will buy a defender who has just had back surgery. Sell.<\/strong><\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

    De Ligt missed the second half of the season with a back injury.(Image: 2026 Manchester United FC)<\/p>\n

    Harry Maguire<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Tyrone Marshall: Just signed a new contract and the best natural centre-back at the club. Fits the way United have played under Carrick, where his defensive strengths have been to the fore. Keep<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Steven Railston: Maguire is still the best defender at United and should be on the plane for the World Cup this summer. He thoroughly deserved his new contract, which was a no-brainer for United. Keep.<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Lisandro Martinez<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Tyrone Marshall: Loved by his coaches, makes United better tactically when he plays and a cult hero on the terraces. Only thing not to like is the fact he’s been able to start just 65 of 152 Premier League games since he joined the club. Keep for now, but if he has another injury hit year then his time will be up. Keep<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Steven Railston: Martinez missed the first three months of the season as he recovered from a knee injury, before missing more time between February and March due to a calf injury. The centre-back is a leader and drives the group on the training pitch, but United need someone more reliable. Sell.<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Patrick Dorgu<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Tyrone Marshall: Made a real impact on the wing under Carrick and now a key member of the squad. Could play an attacking left-back role or left-wing. Won’t start every week, but will have a big role to play next season still. Keep<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Steven Railston: Dorgu might be permanently regarded as an attacker by the end of the season. Regardless of which position his long-term future lies, there is a feeling that there’s plenty more improvement to come from him. Keep.<\/strong><\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

    Dorgu after scoring against Arsenal in January.(Image: 2026 Marc Atkins)<\/p>\n

    Leny Yoro<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Tyrone Marshall: Not done enough in two years at the club to warrant the excitement around his signing, when United beat competition from Real Madrid to land him. Needs to kick on this year and if he does, he could be first-choice by the end of the season. Keep<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Steven Railston: I expected a little bit more from Yoro this season, albeit it wasn’t a bad season for him by any means. Still, he was signed in a \u00a352m deal and should be nailing down a spot in the starting team next term. He has the skillset to become one of the best in the world. Keep.<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Luke Shaw<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Tyrone Marshall: Just had his most productive year yet in terms of starts and performances were of a generally high standard. Next season represents a different challenge and with one year on his contract, it makes sense to wait until early 2027 before making a call. Keep<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Steven Railston: Shaw was also snubbed by England for the World Cup squad. He would be in my squad if I were England manager, though. The 30-year-old started every Premier League game this season, and United need to give him a chance of staying fit next term by signing a back-up. Keep.<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Ayden Heaven<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Tyrone Marshall: A lot to be excited about and looks an ideal stand-in for Martinez at the moment. Probably needs to play more than he did last season, but a deeper schedule will give him those chances. Could be part of this defence for years to come. Keep<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Steven Railston: Carrick raved about Heaven’s performance at Stamford Bridge – and that praise was deserved. The youngster came into the side in difficult circumstances and still has plenty of scope to improve. Keep.<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \"Ayden<\/p>\n

    Heaven tackles Delap at Chelsea.<\/p>\n

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    Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.<\/p>\n

    Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Our reporters have had their say on whether Man United should keep or sell the defenders currently at…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1006222,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[8813],"tags":[748,393,4884,12236,2465,423,101,16,15],"class_list":["post-1006221","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-manchester","tag-britain","tag-england","tag-great-britain","tag-lisandro-martinez","tag-manchester","tag-manchester-united-fc","tag-premier-league","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/116695469864179660","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1006221","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1006221"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1006221\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1006222"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1006221"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1006221"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1006221"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}