Predicting Manchester United’s strongest XI after the winter transfer window

#4 Center back – Victor Lindelof

Victor Lindelof

Victor Lindelof has been guilty of blowing hot and cold this season, but Swede has shown sparks of a budding relationship with Harry Maguire at the heart of the United defence. The former Benfica man has shown glimpses of his qualities, but a lack of consistency has hurt him. Eric Bailly’s injury has given Lindelof a lengthier run in the team despite being error-prone, and now that the Ivory Coast international is back from injury, the competition for places should be intense.

However, Lindelof’s ability to play the ball out from the back coupled with his reading of the game makes puts him ahead of Bailly for now. Even though he has looked the most comfortable as a part of a back 3, Lindelof remains United’s best partner for Maguire at the centre of the defence.

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#5 Center back – Harry Maguire

Harry Maguire

Harry Maguire’s arrival at Old Trafford over the summer was supposed to solve United’s defensive crisis from last season. Unfortunately, while the defence has improved, it is not fool-proof yet. The demands of the task in hand seem to have affected the Englishman’s natural game at times. However, there’s no denying that Maguire is the best centre back in Solskjaer’s squad right not.

The Englishman has been vulnerable due to a lack of protection ahead of him this season, but he has shown that he can be the leader at the back that the United defence has been crying out for. Maguire has shown his ability to drive forward with the ball and has even scored his first goal for the club this season. Once the injury problem at Old Trafford subsides and enables Solskjaer to field a full-strength team, the Englishman should get back to his best for the Red Devils.