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When Erik ten Hag was in charge, a lot of questions were raised about the porous Manchester United defence which leaked 85 goals last season while letting in 17 already this term.
Last weekend’s humiliating defeat at the hands of a struggling West Ham proved to be the final straw as INEOS relieved the former Ajax coach from his duties and placed Ruud van Nistelrooy in temporary charge.
His first game resulted in a 5-2 win over Leicester City in the Carabao Cup, the first time the Red Devils have scored five goals against Premier League opposition in the last two-and-a-half years.
And while the players seemed reinvigorated and played with freedom, the usual chinks in the armour did present themselves with the defence struggling at times.
Defensive issues remain
And incoming head coach Ruben Amorim will be desperate to correct this fatal flaw moving forward. Several defenders could make way once the Portuguese starts his tenure.
Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof are the most likely to make way while Jonny Evans’ time at the club is expected to come to a close at the conclusion of the current campaign.
It is well known at this stage that the Sporting Lisbon manager prefers three at the back and there have been murmurs that he would like to bring a few of his Sporting stars to Manchester sooner rather than later.
Goncalo Inacio could be one of them while The Sun have claimed that Ousmane Diomande could be another star to follow their current boss to his new home.
The Ivorian, termed “one of Europe’s most promising centre-backs” has been a rock at the back for the Portuguese outfit, picking up 10 clean sheets last term and seven already this season.
The 20-year-old is a physical specimen, standing 6ft 3in and has attracted interest from Europe’s elite clubs like Arsenal, Liverpool and Bayern Munich and has a release clause of £70 million.
Diomande pursuit
“A centre-back trio of Yoro, Matthijs De Ligt and Lisandro Martinez provides the balance at the back. But United lack quality options in reserve, with Harry Maguire unlikely to be at the club for much longer.
“Victor Lindelof has long been linked with an exit, and, at 36, Jonny Evans won’t be around forever. With that in mind, Amorim is keen to bring Ousmane Diomande to the club from Sporting.”
A January approach seems unlikely considering the expenses borne by INEOS this season but a summer pursuit seems to be on the cards.
His age and profile makes him suited to the INEOS project and it would be quite the coup after United’s deal for Yoro in the summer.
