Manchester United owners INEOS are planning to complete their squad rebuild by strengthening the defence in 2027.

INEOS sealed their striker rebuild by signing Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, and Benjamin Sesko in 2025, while the midfield was rebuilt this past summer with deals completed for Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans, and Carlos Baleba.

The defence is now expected to be targeted for the upcoming windows, with a left-back, centre-backs, and potentially a right-back all being looked at as potential arrivals.

A left-back is likely to be the priority, with Lewis Hall still believed to be the top target despite signing a new contract at Newcastle since the transfer window slammed shut last month. But a number of centre-backs have been linked with Man Utd, and at least two are likely to be added.

Lisandro Martinez is out of contract in 2028, Harry Maguire is out of contract in 2027, while Matthijs De Ligt is edging closer to a return to fitness after 11 months out due to a back injury, but there is no guarantee he will be able to return to his previous level.

But it has now emerged that the club are also considering selling young Frenchman Leny Yoro, with the 21-year-old believed to be 'concerned' about his future at Old Trafford.

Yoro joined the club from Lille in 2024, after United convinced him to make the move to Old Trafford instead of joining Real Madrid. But he has struggled for regular game time, and has been trialled as a right-back under Michael Carrick at points this season.

But the youngster has proven that he is more than good enough to carve a career at the highest level, and Man Utd would be absolutely bonkers to let him go any time soon - and especially without giving him a genuine run in the first-team to cement his place.

United will need to make changes to their defence, with people leaving, but they need to make a big U-turn on Yoro being the sacrificial lamb, and instead ensure that it's Harry Maguire who is on the move.

2026/27 Must Be Maguire's Last Season at Man Utd

Maguire joined Man Utd in a deal worth £80m from Leicester City in 2019, and has been a regular in the side ever since. But his performances have regularly seen him criticised, and he has rarely been able to prove that he is good enough to justify that fee or his place in the team.

United handed him a new one-year contract earlier this year, with the defender taking a slight pay-cut on his £190,000-a-week basic wage, although it's understood that he could earn more than that with bonuses.

But this summer is the perfect chance for INEOS and Man Utd to allow him to move on and start a new era in the defence. Martinez and De Ligt can provide the experience in the squad, Yoro and Ayden Heaven can compete for a spot, and any new signing should be ready to be the best defender at the club.