Harry Maguire has reportedly suggested to Manchester United that he would like an 'English-speaking or English-born defender' to partner alongside him.
United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has rotated between Eric Bailly and Victor Lindelof alongside Maguire in the hopes of finding the perfect partnership.
But the Red Devils could reinforce their defensive options in the summer transfer window in their pursuit for the 'right' partner for Maguire.
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Duncan Castles now reports that the 28-year-old United skipper wants an English-speaking or English-born defender to 'complement him' in defence.
According to reports, Maguire is keen for the would-be United defender to understand the 'English football culture.'
Castles added that the former Leicester City star has 'mentioned' Brighton centre-back Ben White as a target for United.
White, 23, has made 29 appearances for Brighton this season after returning from a successful loan spell with Leeds United last season.
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The Brighton defender, who is under contract until 2024, has emerged as one potential target for Solskjaer in the summer window.
Rio Ferdinand has even suggested that Solskjaer doesn't trust United's defence and has been using two holding midfielders to provide an extra defensive layer.
Speaking on his FIVE YouTube channel, the 42-year-old United legend said: "If I had one question to ask Ole, that would be it.
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"Why do you keep playing two holding midfielders? Why do you keep playing two defensive midfielders in this team?
"We're playing with one less player in an attacking position all the time. Other teams have more players attacking against us because of the amount of players they can release to go forward because of the confidence they've got in their defenders.
"I'd love the answer to that question. That would be one of my big questions for him, 100 per cent.
"Because you can't spend 80 and 50-odd million for the right-back and for the centre-back, 35-plus for the other centre-back and 30-odd for the other left-back and still be having issues at the back.
"There's a problem, it's not right. You can't be spending that type of money and still be saying, 'I'm going to protect them,' it doesn't make sense.
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"The best teams in the world don't get protected like that. Bayern Munich's team last season, they ain't getting protected by anybody. You've got one holder in there and the others just go off and fly off the handle and play.
"Manchester City, it's the same thing. Maybe their protection is that they have more numbers in the middle of the pitch from the right-back and the left-back going in there, but they still have big spaces out wide and are left one-vs-one to defend at the back.
"United can't do that it seems. We can't leave our players one-vs-one on the halfway line. Scared!"
Featured Image Credit: PATopics:ย Harry Maguire, Football, Manchester United, Premier League, England
