The news last week that Sergio Ramos looks set to extend his Real Madrid contract despite rumoured interest from Manchester United cut short a will-he-won’t-he summer saga that had threatened to run right up until transfer deadline day.
The most revealing outcome of the episode was the widely reported suggestion that Louis van Gaal would no longer be seeking to sign a defender now that Ramos had made himself unavailable. Assuming the story is true, it is an alarming development for United fans.
While Bastian Schweinsteiger, Morgan Schneiderlin, Memphis Depay and Matteo Darmian are excellent additions who will improve the squad in key areas, it is difficult to see the 20-time English champions challenging for the title this time around unless they strengthen their central defensive options.
Chris Smalling improved as last season went on, but Phil Jones and Jonny Evans have regressed in the past couple of campaigns, Daley Blind does not seem a natural fit at centre-half and Marcos Rojo has hitherto proved unconvincing when fielded in the heart of the backline.
Ramos now appears out of reach, but that does not diminish United’s need for a new centre-back.
Without one, and in spite of their recent reinforcements, Van Gaal’s side still lack the balance that is needed for a prolonged title pursuit of Chelsea.
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