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Old 19-08-2019, 09:01 AM   #72
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Default Re: Manchester United next twin towers?

Have Manchester United finally cured their back pain by pairing Harry Maguire with Victor Lindelof? Old Trafford club had not replaced Rio Ferdinand-Nemanja Vidic partnership... until now

* Man United have long tried to replace the Rio Ferdinand-Nemanja Vidic axis
* They have finally got it right with Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof
* The players slotted in together seamlessly against Chelsea last week
* Maguire's presence is what Lindelof has needed to accelerate his progression


It can be no coincidence that shortly after Harry Maguire breezed through the doors at Old Trafford, talk began to swirl about a new contract for Victor Lindelof.

They are the latest central defensive pairing United have turned to in their interminable quest to replace the Rio Ferdinand-Nemanja Vidic axis.

United feel they have finally got it right and manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has them down as his first-choice partnership.

Maguire, whose leadership qualities have already made an impact around the Carrington training ground, has come in on wages of around £200,000 a week. It would be prudent, therefore, for United to tie down Lindelof ahead of his peak years. Lindelof's performances over the past year are certainly worthy of a hike in wages from his current £65,000 a week.

The players slotted in together seamlessly against Chelsea last week. They are young, Maguire is 26, Lindelof 25, and could be the bedrock for United for the next five or six seasons.

'We've only played one game,' warned Solskjaer. 'We want the partnership to develop. I hope Victor and Harry don't give me a reason to change. No injuries, suspensions or lack of concentration. They can both play, they read the game really well.'

On Maguire he added: 'It's great for any centre back to have that presence next to them. I'm sure Victor will enjoy that.'


Harry Maguire (right) and Victor Lindelof embrace after a clean sheet in victory over Chelsea


Nemanja Vidic (left) and Rio Ferdinand (right) formed a formidable partnership at Old Trafford

Maguire's presence is precisely what Lindelof has needed to accelerate his own progression as a player. The lack of physicality alongside him has in the past seen the Sweden international go into battle for balls more imposing defenders devour. While Maguire will undoubtedly improve the team, his presence in the side should help the man next to him as well.

Lindelof and Maguire will start against Wolves at Molineux on Monday night, with Solskjaer suggesting that 21-year-old academy product Axel Tuanzebe is his third-choice central defender while Eric Bailly is out with a long-term knee injury.

That will be pretty grim news for Phil Jones and Chris Smalling, who Solskjaer always seems to refer to as a pair, and who must now be wondering what future they have at United.

United rejected a loan offer from Everton for Smalling over the summer, while Sportsmail understands Jones was discussed informally as a possible makeweight for Maguire before United coughed up the world-record £80million fee to Leicester. Jones's name was also mentioned as United made tentative enquiries about West Ham's Issa Diop.

Bizarrely, despite their futures appearing far from settled, both Jones and Smalling have signed new contracts since December.

United also have Marcos Rojo on their books. The Argentinian is out of favour and could depart before the European transfer window closes on September 2 after seeing a deadline-day switch to Everton collapse.

As Solskjaer was willing to admit, it is hard to keep that many centre halves happy. 'At the moment I've got six fit centre halves, which is maybe one too many to keep everyone involved,' he said.

The United manager insists that all seven of his central defenders are capable of playing the way he wants, with Tuanzebe having impressed during last season's loan spell at Aston Villa, even allowing for a three-month break after a metatarsal fracture.

'Pre-season was a great chance for Axel to show what he's capable of,' Solskjaer said. 'I've seen him at Villa, I've seen him in midfield here and at right back. We know he's going to be a big, big part of this club in the future. He probably impressed me more than I expected. That's why he's on the bench. Axel is knocking on the door.'

But Solskjaer will hope he doesn't have to open that door yet. He'd dearly love to stick with a settled duo of Maguire and Lindelof for the foreseeable future.

Code:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-7369791/Manchester-United-never-replaced-Rio-Vidic-partnership-now.html
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