Manchester United expect Lisandro Martínez to be available for the Premier League opener, but Matthijs de Ligt's return is delayed. No new centre-back will be signed this summer.

There is now less than a month until Manchester United's first Premier League match of the season, and Carrick has been given a boost. Team doctors believe centre-back Lisandro Martínez can play in the opening fixture against Hull City. On the other hand, the recovery of Dutch defender Matthijs de Ligt's back problem is not progressing as quickly as hoped, potentially delaying his return further.

The 28-year-old Argentine international, Lisandro Martínez, was forced off in the first half of the World Cup final, sparking concerns at Manchester United and among fans. Given that it was the ultimate match of the World Cup, a player would only leave the pitch if the injury was too severe to continue.

Martínez clutched the front of his thigh, clearly indicating a muscle strain. Fortunately, according to ESPN's Manchester United correspondent Andy Mitten, the club's medical staff believe the injury is not serious. They expect him to rejoin training after a three-week break, just in time for United's final week of pre-season preparations in Dublin, Ireland.

A video shows Martínez back in his hometown of Gualeguay after the World Cup, where he was warmly welcomed by thousands of fans. He gave a speech to his fellow townspeople, appearing relaxed and showing no signs of being troubled by the injury.

If Martínez returns smoothly, it will be great news for Carrick. In his early matches as manager, Carrick used a centre-back partnership of Martínez and Harry Maguire, which helped secure victories over Manchester City and Arsenal. It was only after Martínez's injury that he had to make changes.

The 33-year-old Maguire has signed a one-year extension with an option for another season. He was not selected for England's World Cup squad and has already returned for pre-season training. In the first two friendlies, Maguire partnered 19-year-old Aiden Heaven in central defence, while 20-year-old Leny Yoro played out of position at right-back.

In fact, United's plan was to pair Martínez with the 26-year-old De Ligt as the first-choice defensive duo. Unfortunately, both have been injured in turns and have rarely played together.

Moreover, they won't be able to feature together anytime soon. While the "Argentine Butcher" seems to have avoided serious injury, "De Ligt" is still not fully recovered and will certainly spend his 27th birthday on the sidelines.

De Ligt has been sidelined since November due to a back problem. There have been multiple reports of his potential return, but none materialised. After conservative treatment failed to yield the desired results, United arranged for De Ligt to undergo surgery this summer, and he is now in the recovery phase.

According to British media, De Ligt is still only able to train alone at Carrington, and even then only indoors. He is not expected to rejoin the team until at least autumn. In the British tradition, "autumn time" generally refers to the period from September 22 to December 21 each year.

Despite the injury issues in central defence, there have been rumours that the club might sign a new centre-back. However, The Athletic emphasises that a centre-back signing is not a priority, especially given United's limited transfer budget. It is unlikely they will bring in a centre-back this summer.

United's remaining transfer targets are primarily in midfield, left-back, and striker positions. If a defender is signed, it is more likely to be a new left-back to compete with the 31-year-old Luke Shaw and eventually replace him. Newcastle United's Lewis Hall has become United's top target, while Fulham's Antonee Robinson is also a rumoured option. However, United are cautious about the high transfer fees in the current English market.