Manchester United need Inter Milan’s ’Beast from the East’

Johannesburg - With a defence that is shakier than a rope suspension bridge, guilty of shipping in 34 goals in 26 English Premier League matches, it is not rocket science concluding that fourth-placed Manchester United are in dire need of a defensive shake-up.

The Red Devils’ rearguard, marshalled by captain Harry Maguire, has leaked in the most goals of any of the sides currently occupying the top five positions in the English top flight, and even the arrival of World Cup-winning French international defender Raphael Varane has not proved enough of a tonic for the record 20-time English champions’ defensive woes.

Maguire has been at the centre of much of the criticism for numerous of United’s defensive horror shows this season, and rightly so.

The 41-time capped England international defender’s apparent lack of defensive nous has made for an unenviable reel of comical defensive errors on YouTube and the compilation seems to grow by the week.

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The four-time Uefa Champions League-winning Varane arrived amidst fanfare at Old Trafford in September 2021, but his debut season at the Theatre of Dreams has been marred by injuries that have seen him turn out only 15 times in the Premier League.

Given Maguire’s nightmarish displays against Burnley and Southampton in the Premier League recently, Varane’s return from injury has given United temporary relief.

Maguire is an enigma. Bought for a world record £80 million, for a defender, from Leicester City a little over two years ago following a largely impressive two-year spell, coupled with an top showing for England at the 2018 World Cup, he was seen as United’s answer to Liverpool’s signing of the Dutch