Following Manchester United's defensive failure against Liverpool on Thursday night, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's summer priority of centre-back is justified. However, the club will have to spend more money to find the best nominee.
United are now depending on Victor Lindelof and Eric Bailly with Harry Maguire out with a possibly season-ending ankle injury.
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Despite his undeniable ball-playing skill, there are concerns about Lindelof's tackle consistency and aerial prowess.
Bailly is a capable player on his day, as is current backup choice Axel Tuanzebe, but both have struggled with injuries in recent years.
According to the MEN, after binding Edinson Cavani down to a one-year contract extension, Solskjaer has prioritized the signing of a centre-back this summer.
Real Madrid's Raphael Varane, Sevilla's Jules Kounde, Atalanta's Cristian Romero, and Lille's Sven Botman have all been mentioned as potential goals.
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However, with the COVID-19 pandemic still affecting the club, United would almost certainly have to sell to get in a flagship replacement to complement long-term goal, Jadon Sancho.
Two names spring to mind when considering future money-makers in the new squad: David de Gea and Jesse Lingard.
De Gea has been demoted to second-choice goalie, with Dean Henderson replacing him as Solskjaer's first choice between the posts.
Moving away from the Spaniard would not only fetch a fair amount, but it would also free up a significant portion of the club's overall pay expenditure.
Lingard's January loan relocation to West Ham United triggered a career revival, making him even more important.
The 28-year-old, who was appointed Premier League Player of the Month for April today, has been in scintillating form in London.
Lingard has returned to the England squad ahead of EURO 2020, after being personally involved in 12 goals in 13 games for West Ham, contributing nine times and registering three assists.
Lingard and De Gea may be bundled together for up to £50 million, putting United in a strong financial role.
With Joel Glazer pledging expenditure, the Reds will have no hesitation in matching Borussia Dortmund's £80 million Sancho investment.
Add on a top-tier centre-back, and you're looking at a total spend of little more than £100 million, after deducting the money earned for outgoings.
In the background, it's a small price to pay for two signings that will propel Solskjaer's project forward.
Lingard would almost certainly have piqued the attention of several clubs ahead of the summer transfer window, particularly if he is picked for and performs well at the European Championships.
Of necessity, choosing a plausible suitor for De Gea would be more difficult given his present salary package. However, it seems that the time has come to part ways with an undeniable United legend.
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