Manchester United transfer news: The Red Devils sit 18th in the Premier League after last weekend’s 4-4 draw with Aston Villa, their first spell in the bottom three since 1986. Michael Carrick’s side have won once in 10 league games this season, and they visit Anfield after the international break on a winless run of eight. Villa led 2-0 inside four minutes and later 4-2, which says plenty about the defending. Carrick admits United must tighten up on mistakes after the draw, yet the errors keep arriving and the points keep leaking.

The centre-back department explains much of it. Lisandro Martinez has spent recent seasons in and out of the treatment room and is expected to leave next year, Harry Maguire turned 33 in March, and left-sided cover beyond that pair comes down mostly to the young Ayden Heaven.

United spent the summer rebuilding midfield with three signings and put the defence off until 2027. The Daily Mail now calls that a costly misjudgement and believes it could force the club into the market in January. Attack poses the same problem, because Benjamin Sesko is injured and United are expected to chase a loan striker while working within financial restrictions.

The Mail reports that Brentford captain Nathan Collins now sits on the defensive shortlist, alongside Fulham’s Calvin Bassey and Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite.

What Collins offers and where he falls short

Collins arrived from Wolves for £23m in 2023 and is tied to Brentford until 2029. TeamTalk reported earlier this year that the Bees would want at least £55m. The 25-year-old Republic of Ireland international stands 1.93m tall, wins aerial duels, carries the ball out from the back, and started 32 of Brentford’s 35 league games last season with 209 clearances.

The drawbacks are specific. Collins is right-footed, so he does not fix the left side, a calf strain kept him out for around six weeks after 5 September, and Brentford lost 2-0 to Brighton on Sunday.

Manchester United transfer news: Should Manchester United spend big on Nathan Collins?

Yes, but not as the first or only signing. Collins would give United an aerial presence and a long-term successor to Maguire. At £55m or more, United would pay for a right-sided defender while the hole sits on the left. Branthwaite, who is left-footed, answers that, and Martinez’s expected exit only makes the left side more urgent. With Sesko injured, one expensive defender could leave nothing for the striker. The smarter plan is Branthwaite first and Collins in the summer, once United know who picks the team.