Is it time we move the butcher on?

This is the question on United's fans' lips after centre-back Lisandro Martinez went down with an injury for Argentina in their 1-0 loss to Spain in the World Cup final.

The good news was that the 28-year-old managed to walk off himself and appeared to be holding his thigh rather than his knee where he suffered that ACL injury. It was also not in another area where he suffered significant injuries in the past.

However, that in itself is a concern because this is another issue.

At this point, I haven't seen any updates on his injury and how long he'll be out for but with Martinez, you wouldn't be surprised if he were out for a couple of months and missed the start of the season.

But with this latest setback, let's just take a look at his injury history:

‍

That list isn't as long as some players. Some of those players are at United 👀.

But it's more the type of injury and spells on the sidelines that are the real issue with Martinez.

Metatarsal fracture, foot injury, knee injury, calf strain, ACL. These are all serious problems and have kept him out for large spells at a time.

So if he is this injury prone, not only do we have a decision to make on him but United have a decision to make when it comes to their transfer plans.

‍

Reports not so long ago suggested that the club would be looking to reinforce their back line next transfer window whilst the focus of this remains on the midfield.

However, with this Martinez injury, I think United may have to reconsider.

Matthijs De Ligt has been out since the end of last year. He is reportedly set to return in the early stages of the new campaign. We also have no idea how he will return because to be out this long with a back problem could mean he needs a good while to get back into rhythm on the pitch.

He and Martinez are considered our two best CBs but have never actually played together. Injuries are why.

Then we have Harry Maguire.

The former captain has his issues as a defender in the modern game but he too, suffers with injuries every now and then. His may not be as serious as Martinez or De Ligt, but Maguire tends to miss a decent few games here and there.

Noussair Mazraoui is another who like Maguire, is out for decent periods at a time. Nothing significant, but the Moroccan is sidelined for a few weeks now and then. He even got injured during the World Cup.

And do I need to tell you about Luke Shaw?

Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven are two youngsters. That is a risk itself.

But with Yoro in particular, the young Frenchman has suffered from a couple of problems of his own. United even bought him injured causing him to miss 26 games. Last season, he picked up a knock in which he missed two weeks. As United weren't playing that much last season, this wasn't as big of a concern as it will be this season. Two weeks of no action and that could mean at least four games out.

That leaves just Diogo Dalot, one of the most criticized players at United, as the only truly reliable, experienced defender.

And that is a problem because he ain't even that good.

‍

United needed new defenders anyway. Some aren't good enough while others are too unreliable. I think we all felt that with the amount of business we needed to do and in other positions, with the numbers and relative quality we have at the back, we could get away with the players we have in our defence for another season.

However, with this Martinez injury, I think we have to rethink our transfer plans. To go into a new and important season with extra games with defenders like these is quite the risk. They suffered injuries in a campaign with just 40 games, the least we've played in ~100 years.

What's it going to be like with 60+ games?

‍

This is a big decision now for United.

Do we start to look at defenders this summer despite the plan being doing so for next summer? Is this Martinez injury a reason to try and move him on as soon as possible?

Difficult questions for the club but what do you think should happen? Should United look at defenders now? Would you move Martinez on? Or would you risk things by keeping the butcher and not signing new defenders?