According to Mirror, Manchester United's defensive line comprising Dalot, Maguire, Lisandro Martinez, and Luke Shaw has kept just 4 clean sheets in 12 appearances together, raising concerns about the stability of their defence.

Since Michael Carrick took over as manager, Manchester United's performances have been strong enough to push for a Champions League return, but questions remain about their defensive performance. External scrutiny of United's defence continues, and the lack of summer investment could exacerbate these concerns.

Baleba's arrival should help. The Cameroonian midfielder is expected to provide defensive cover once he returns from injury.

However, the four defenders who started for Manchester United in Sunday's match at Everton are the same defensive quartet that played in the 0-4 away defeat to Brentford approximately four years ago.

Following that defeat, manager Erik ten Hag invested heavily in Casemiro. The Brazilian midfielder performed well in his first season at Old Trafford but saw his form decline in his second season.

The defensive line of Dalot, Maguire, Lisandro Martinez, and Luke Shaw has achieved some good results, but whether they can consistently limit their opponents' chances remains a question.

Carrick has used this combination twice this season against Ipswich and Everton, and these four have played together a total of 12 times. However, they have managed only 4 clean sheets across these 12 matches, which is far from ideal.

In the 12 matches where Dalot, Maguire, Lisandro Martinez, and Luke Shaw formed the defensive quartet, Manchester United recorded 8 wins, 2 draws, and 2 losses. On paper, the record doesn't look too concerning, but United conceded a total of 17 goals across these 12 matches.

In seven of those matches, their opponents scored at least two goals. This includes two matches this season, as well as three 3-2 defeats against Arsenal, Fulham, and Nottingham Forest last season.

Extrapolating over a full season, conceding 17 goals in 12 matches would equate to roughly 54 goals over 38 matches. Last season, only six Premier League teams conceded more than 54 goals, and three of those were relegated.

If Manchester United hopes to improve on last season's third-place finish, they will need to believe that their defence must be strengthened. Manchester United has had only four Premier League seasons where they conceded 54 or more goals, and their best finish in those seasons was sixth place.

When Manchester United played at Goodison Park on Sunday, Šeško scored late in the match, and the team appeared ready to secure victory. However, Maitland-Niles then produced a spectacular finish in his Everton debut, allowing Manchester United to be pegged back to a draw.

Carrick told BBC Match of the Day: "Of course, we don't want to concede goals. Today was different from previous matches; the most important thing was to finish the match because we're in a very strong position."

As Baleba adapts to his new role at Old Trafford, he should be able to provide defensive support behind the back line. However, some are now beginning to question whether it's time for Manchester United to make more significant changes to their defence.

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