Man Utd’s long-running transfer problem exposed after Harry Maguire injury

Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has confirmed that club captain Harry Maguire has suffered ligament damage and could be out of action for their remaining fixtures.

Maguire was forced off in United's 3-1 win over Aston Villa at the weekend after a collision with team-mate Edinson Cavani and, speaking ahead of his side's game against Leicester City, Solskjaer offered an update on the defender's fitness.

"He's obviously had the scans and the good news is there is no fracture," Solskjaer revealed. "The good news is that he [Maguire] has not broken anything, it is just ligament damage and we hope to see him again before the Europa League final."

Maguire has been ever present for United since joining from the Foxes in 2019 and he had played every single minute in the Premier League since then, until he suffered the injury against Villa.

With United's other centre-back options, Victor Lindelof, Eric Bailly and Axel Tuanzebe, all regularly struggling with fitness problems over the past few seasons, Solskjaer has depended on Maguire.

Now that he is out with an injury, United's need for reinforcements at the back have been highlighted.

A new centre-back is said to be one of their top targets this summer, with the likes of Raphael Varane, Jules Kounde and Pau Torres linked with moves to Old Trafford.

However, during previous windows former United stars have repeatedly stated that the club needed to sign a defender, with Dimitar Berbatov saying at the start of the current campaign: "Centre back, for sure, needs to be the priority in my opinion."

Speaking after United's first game of the season, club legend Rio Ferdinand said: "I've been banging the drum for a long time about buying a centre-half. It's not going to solve every problem but it's one of the biggest problems."

Paul Scholes has also highlighted the need for his former club to strengthen at the back, saying: "They are missing a real dominant centre back, you look back at the history of the teams that win leagues they have real leaders in the back four."

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