Manchester United have made a flying start to this season and currently sit at the top of the Premier League table. Yet there are still questions about them being genuine title contenders. The biggest reason for that is their lack of depth and shaky defence.
Firstly, it is true that United do not possess the kind of depth that Liverpool or Manchester City have. Just look at the number of injuries that those two have suffered this season and they still find themselves near the top of the table. Would it be the same case for the Red Devils if Bruno Fernandes went down with an injury? Probably not.
Coming to the second issue, we must admit that the backline has improved drastically over the course of the season. That 6-1 drubbing at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur is a distant memory now. But in the big games, the defence still must leave Solskjaer uncomfortable at times.
Things could have been very different though if United had managed to sign Dayot Upamecano in the summer.
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Why Manchester United’s attempt to sign Upamecano fell apart
One of the most highly-rated centre-backs in all of Europe right now, it has emerged that he was very close to a switch to Old Trafford before it fell apart at the last moment. And the reason for that is that the player’s father started to make demands at the last minute which the Red Devils were not willing to meet.
A report from ESPN states:
"United had scouted the defender for over a year and were close to landing him last summer. However, they were forced to step back when the player’s father started making extra demands."
If Manchester United do manage to pull off a deal for Upamecano, then it would be huge. But they will have to fend off serious competition for that to happen. It has been claimed that both Chelsea and Bayern Munich are interested in the young French defender while Liverpool are also not far behind.