Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez are in line to be Manchester United 's starting centre-backs after manager Erik ten Hag dropped two telling hints over the pair.
Ten Hag has already confirmed that Maguire will remain the Red Devils' captain for the new Premier League season, which for United kicks off against Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday, August 7. Meanwhile, the club have splashed out £55million to sign Martinez from Ajax, where the Argentine worked with Ten Hag for three seasons and proved himself as a Champions League -level centre-back.
On top of those early indications regarding his preferred partnership, the Dutch tactician has now talked up the duo's importance ahead of the 2022-23 campaign, having been without Raphael Varane for the Red Devils' last two pre-season friendlies thanks to injury. Asked if Maguire was a first-choice player ahead of United's comfortable 3-1 victory over Crystal Palace in Melbourne on Tuesday, Ten Hag affirmed: "I think he is.
