This summer, if there is one position Manchester United certainly need to ensure they bolster, it is the centre back position. Even with Chris Smalling the really solid centre back at the club along with Daley Blind who has done well in a role he generally did not play much of before, the Red devils could still do with the signing of another centre back. Many names have been linked with the club but only the signing of the quality of Sergio Ramos will do.

Last summer, Nicolas Otamendi was constantly linked with a move to the club unfortunately he was lost to City. Ramos was also linked with a move to Old Trafford but he chose to stay at Real Madrid. Others linked were Subotic, Mats Hummels, John Stones and As Roma’s Rudiger. None of them were signed and you could argue United have suffered for it so far this season with the added miss of Phil Jones for much of the season.

This summer, reports are that Mats Hummels is the main target. Unfortunately it appears United will lose out on the signing of the World Cup winner as official reports from Bayern Munich have revealed the former Champions league winners have taken permission from Dortmund to hold talks with their skipper ahead of a summer move.

If the Guardian are correct with their report it will be a massive blow to Manchester United. Plus it will be a big indication of why Ed Woodward needs to ensure all transfer dealings are completed sooner rather than later. The Reds simply can’t afford a poor transfer window. Although last summer, the club did some very good transfer business it possibly could have been better had they started early. LVG probably overpaid for Martial and Schneiderlin because things were left late and became desperate to complete the deals fast with little time left until the end of the window.

This summer, a striker and a centre back are musts, so United should move quickly if they do not want to lose key targets to other clubs who may be able to offer Champions League football whereas it looks like United will not qualify. Should Hummels join Bayern Munich he will of course be playing in the Champions League next season as Munich are always contenders to win the competition and qualification is guaranteed for the German Champions.