Manchester United already have a player who could be like a new signing next season

When Raphael Varane made a rock star's entrance ahead of Manchester United's season opener against Leeds United at Old Trafford last August, it was impossible to count the number of supporters who had whipped out their phones to take a photograph of the club's newest recruit.

United had landed one of the best central defenders in the world, who arrived in England equipped with a winning mentality after a trophy-laden decade at Real Madrid, winning 18 major honours. It was a statement of intent and it was hoped the Frenchman would be the world-class partner Harry Maguire had been looking for.

It was impossible to imagine at the time that United would go on to experience their worst campaign defensively since the 1978/79 season, shipping 69 goals in all competitions. Unsurprisingly, a defensive record like that resulted in the club ending the campaign with their worst-ever points tally in the Premier League era.

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Had Varane been fit all season it might have been different. The 29-year-old experienced a stop-start campaign, regularly being forced to miss out through injury and illness. He made just 29 appearances in all competitions - his lowest tally since a knee injury restricted him to just 23 outings during the 2013/14 season.

United desperately missed his presence, conceding four or more goals on five occasions without him in the Premier League, including in the 4-0 and 5-0 defeats byLiverpool. To say those results would not have happened had Varane been fit is impossible, but surely it is no coincidence that United's heaviest defeats happened when they were without their star defender?

He also missed the hammerings at the hands of