Manchester United: 3 ways to replace Raphael Varane

Play Luke Shaw in a back three

Luke Shaw has been absolutely brilliant at left-back over the past year or so, which has seen him return to the England national team picture and establish himself as a regular in the Red Devils’ starting XI.

As a result of it though, Alex Telles has not played a lot of first-team football ever since arriving at Manchester United. This could be an opportunity to play both of them together.

Shaw is capable of playing in a back three and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could play him there while giving Telles his place at left-back.

It is safe to say that this would be a bold and interesting tactic from the Norwegian. But it could definitely work. And with Victor Lindelof having picked up a knock recently as well, this could possibly be the only solution if Solskjaer wants to stick with the back three moving forward.

Move away from the back three

This could be a simple way to replace Raphael Varane in the team and how they had done the previous time he had gotten injured. Just play a simple four man defence with a couple of centre-backs and two full-backs.

Of course, the success of the back three in the game against Tottenham Hotspur, and the struggles that Manchester United faced before that means that this would be a very big decision to take.

The back three gives some extra protection to a Manchester United defence that has struggled to keep the ball out of their net all season. But then, they might have very little choice considering the number of injuries and players out of form at the back right now.

Whatever way you look at it, it is safe to say that the Red Devils have been handed a massive worry by Varane’s recent injury and one can only hope that he recovers and returns to the pitch as soon as possible.