Chris Smalling has signed a new contract and Phil Jones is about to sign a new contract. It looks likely that, come the start of next season, they'll still be Man United's first choice centre back pairing.
Despite that, or perhaps as a result, Louis Van Gaal is being widely linked with a move for a top class centre back and the name that keeps cropping up is Sergio Ramos. The Spanish international is reportedly unsettled at the Bernabeu and with Real Madrid trying to convince United to part ways with David De Gea, suggestions of a mutually beneficial deal have been raised.
It seems unlikely. However, the rumours are increasing and it is getting Man United fans talking and it seems some are not pleased with the possibility of seeing the World Cup in a red jersey next season. Callers to TalkSport today have been picking holes in Ramos' game but the 29 year old had a pretty good advocate in the studio in the form of Jamie Carragher.
Put simply, the Sky Sports pundit was having none of their nonsense.
I get a bit wound up by the criticism Ramos gets. This is a fella who has won everything, he plays for one of the best clubs in the world and one of the best international sides we’ve ever seen.
He is rash at times, he has moments of madness and does get overly emotional in games, that’s always been a problem for him, but let’s not forget that it’s a problem for Wayne Rooney as well.
I’ve heard callers say he hasn’t reacted well under pressure and he makes mistakes – what defender doesn’t make mistakes?
If a team like Real Madrid could find a better defender, they would, but they don’t. Ramos plays every week, they win everything and people still chip away at him and criticise him. Top-class centre-backs are a dying breed now, there’s very few now compared to years ago. If United don’t get Ramos, or don’t want to sign him, who else would they get?
We'd tend to agree with Carragher. It seems ludicrous that any right minded Man United fan would say not to the possibility of Ramos shoring up their defence next season.
