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United's Centre-Back issues.

Within the opening half of the 2012/13 Premier League season United opened with a flurry of goals hitting David De Gea or Anders Lindegaard's net. Every game it seemed, United had several defensive errors which resulted in United conceding a total of 28 goals by Christmas. Although things began to pick up during the second half, It exposed many problems within the United defence.

An unhappy David de Gea concedes a goal against City

Since 2006-2007, United's first choice centre-back partnership has been Vidic-Ferdinand. From 2006 until 2009, they won the team 3 league titles, and a Champion's League. These were this partnership's glory years and beyond this time, gaps began to form within United's central defence. Through 2009-2010, United experienced their worst defensive crisis in recent history. Vidic and Ferdinand would retain several injuries from there on out, thus limiting the appearances of the two's famed partnership. To this day it is seldom that the two are both able to play together for a prolonged amount of time.

Rio and Vidic following a goal from Vidic.

In stepped Jonny Evans, a young Northern Irish centre-half who would fill the gaps when one of the two was out. An incredible opening season in 2008-2009 showed him to be one of the best young centre backs in the entire league at the time. Limited appearances in through to 2011 were detrimental to his development and when played, he looked poor. Recently, due to many more injuries to Vidic and/or Ferdinand, he has established himself as a solid centre back.

Jonny Evans in 2012/13

In 2010 and 2011, in came Chris Smalling and Phil Jones respectively. While Smalling has shown promise, it is clear he is not a top level Centre back and will likely provide back-up due to his versatility with the right side of defence. Jones, who still has years ahead of him, certainly looks to have the potential to further himself at the club, but the question truly is whether or not his future lies in the centre of defence, where opportunies are limited, at right-back where Rafael has shown himself to be one of the best in the entire division, or, more likely at Central Defensive Midfield where he has performed well against some of the best players in the world, such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale.

Phil Jones and Chris Smalling celebrate.

As Vidic and Ferdinand's injury issues prevail and their age continues to become more of an issue, it is the question whether Smalling, Evans or Jones have the ability to replace them. Interest in Benfica's Garay has possibly answered this question.

Will Garay be signed by Moyes in the next January transfer window?