If there is an area of the Manchester United squad where they have invested particularly abysmally it is at centre-back.
United spent a world-record fee on Harry Maguire, world-class only for his country; Raphael Varane arrived 10 years later than intended; Victor Lindelof received a salary increase after United's worst defensive season in 40 years; Eric Bailly's contract was extended 14 months ago and he has played 13 times since, and Phil Jones has completed 90 minutes once in the last two years.
Marcos Rojo, a defender discarded at the umpteenth attempt, was put up for sale in four out of his five summers at United and in the only one he wasn't he was injured.
