Manchester United have reportedly identified Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa as a potential summer transfer target.
Since the arrival of Sir Jim Ratcliffe as a minority owner, it has been widely reported that the new football operations chief is ready to overhaul the first-team squad.
Although players are likely to arrive at Old Trafford to strengthen several different positions, at least one central defender is at the top of United's priority list.
As it stands, just one player - Lisandro Martinez - will be below the age of 30 at the start of next season, while all five of United's current senior crop have suffered injuries at various points in the campaign.
In the short term, Erik ten Hag faces having Martinez, Victor Lindelof, Raphael Varane and Jonny Evans all unavailable for Sunday's showdown with Liverpool, a consequence of the latter pair needing to be substituted against Chelsea on Thursday night.
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Why else do Man United need to strengthen their defence?
Up until Thursday night, United held the fourth-best defensive record in the Premier League, a statistic that has gone somewhat under the radar because the team sit in sixth position in the division.
However, Chelsea had 27 attempts on goal against the Red Devils at Stamford Bridge and scored twice after the clock had passed 99 minutes to win by a 4-3 scoreline.
In their last two fixtures, United have conceded three times beyond the 98-minute mark, while United have now faced more shots than any other team in Europe's five big leagues since the start of 2024.
225 - Manchester United have faced more shots than any other side in Europe's big-five leagues in 2024 (225). Concerning. pic.twitter.com/mVEgUEEfRo
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 4, 2024
Who is next on Man United's radar?
According to FootballTransfers, United are contemplating whether to try to negotiate a deal for Aston Villa defender Konsa.
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The 26-year-old has developed into a key player at the West Midlands outfit, leading to international recognition with England during the recent friendlies against Brazil and Belgium.
Konsa, who can also play at right-back, has featured in all but three of Villa's last 69 Premier League fixtures, although the potential stumbling block is the player being on a contract until 2028.
That said, Villa may have to find a solution to bolster their position with the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules, which could give United hope of tempting their divisional rivals into a big-money sale.
United have already been linked with a number of alternatives, most recently Wolverhampton Wanderers defender Max Kilman.
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