Manchester United could change their priority area vs Real Betis

Manchester United head down from Los Angeles to San Diego for their second friendly of their tour and fourth overall this pre-season.

United have lost two of their three games and take on Real Betis in southern California 12 months on from their academy XI's 3-1 defeat to Wrexham at the same stadium. After injuries to Rasmus Hojlund and Leny Yoro at the SoFi Stadium, there have been suggestions United could field a weaker team against Betis, with their final tour friendly against Liverpool in South Carolina on Saturday.

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Who's Maguire's partner?

United deemed Victor Lindelof's return to training as newsworthy this week. If Lindelof was not out of contract next year and not for sale it is unlikely his participation would have warranted a standalone story.

With Yoro nursing an injury, United manager Erik ten Hag has only three first team centre backs to choose from in Lindelof, Harry Maguire and Jonny Evans. Maguire has to be first in line after a fine 2023-24 season and Evans, even at 36, is his logical partner for the time being.

Midfield change-up?

United's first game of the new season is next week in the Community Shield and the only change to their midfield has been the end of Sofyan Amrabat's loan. Inexplicably, Amrabat is still listed among the first team players on the United website even though he is a Fiorentina player.

To enter a new season with Casemiro as the only defensive midfielder would be negligent when the midfield was widely regarded as a priority area to strengthen.