Manchester United are reportedly prepared to spend heavily on a new centre-back during this summer's transfer window, with the club already putting together a five-man shortlist.
The Red Devils are the leading scorers in this season's Premier League with 49 goals, but a leaky defence has conceded 30 times, including three in their last league match with Everton.
According to ESPN, head coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wants to sign a partner for Harry Maguire, with both Victor Lindelof and Eric Bailly struggling with fitness problems during the 2020-21 campaign.
The report claims that Sevilla's Jules Kounde, Aston Villa's Tyrone Mings, Real Madrid's Raphael Varane, Braga's David Carmo and RB Leipzig's Dayot Upamecano are all on the club's shortlist.
Upamecano, though, is thought to be Bayern Munich's leading target in this summer's transfer window, and the Red Devils face the possibility of missing out on the France international to the European champions.
Kounde has also been linked with Real Madrid as a potential replacement for Varane, with the Frenchman's long-term future at the Bernabeu far from secure.
Matt Law
