On the face of it, trying to sign a central defender who spent virtually all of last season playing on the left doesn’t make a lot of sense for Manchester United. The value of the incumbent for that position was demonstrated once again on FA Cup final day.

In a season plagued by injuries, Erik ten Hag missed Lisandro Martinez more than any other player. The absence of a left-footed centre-back hurt the balance of the side while nobody else is capable of receiving and playing the ball under such pressure in the defensive third of the pitch.

Martinez makes such a difference to United, but a string of injuries kept his involvement down to just 896 minutes and 11 starts last season. When he returned in the final weeks of the campaign the team looked a lot better and the Argentine was vital at Wembley.

Change is coming at centre-back this season. Raphael Varane has already left and at least one of Victor Lindelof or Harry Maguire could be sold. Ten Hag has wanted to field all three of them on the right when they’ve played.

So an opening offer of £43m for Jarrad Branthwaite, the impressive Everton central defender, looks slightly confusing given he played on the left of a central defensive pairing for the Toffees. United don’t need competition for Martinez, they need a partner for him.

But the 21-year-old was utilised on that side by Sean Dyche because that is where the gap in his defence was. This is actually a centre-back from Cumbria who is equally happy on his right foot as he is on his left and is considered one of the most two-footed players in the Premier League.

He has played as a right-sided centre-back before, notably during a loan spell at PSV Eindhoven, and would be capable of doing so again. He is comfortable receiving the ball and passing the ball on either foot.

So a deal that might have raised a few eyebrows might actually make perfect sense for United. If they can agree terms with Everton then it is likely Branthwaite will line up alongside Martinez at the heart of the defence at the start of next season, with the youngster on the right and Martinez on the left.

What the England international will also offer is the ability to slot into Martinez’s position seamlessly and avoid the kind of issues Ten Hag had to deal with last season.

Speaking last November, Ten Hag namechecked Luke Shaw as another option in that position but he had injury issues of his own to deal with. He also outlined the importance of balance in the middle of defence.

“I thought from the start when I came in here, I want a player on the left side of my defence, who is comfortable on the left side of their foot, because it gives you more and better angles and that is the reason I explained from the start,” said Ten Hag.

“That’s why I [brought in] Licha Martinez, to have that left-footed [centre-back]. But we have, in our squad, players who can [play] left as well, of course, Victor Lindelof and Luke Shaw are capable to play in that position. Jonny Evans, as well, and that fits through our way of playing, and that fits to my philosophy of how I see the game.”

Lindelof and Evans were mentioned for that role but neither comes close to matching the impact of Martinez. In a full season of Premier League football for Everton, Branthwaite showed he can do it.

United will be desperate to see Martinez get through a season without significant injury issues and if he does so, expect to see a partnership alongside Branthwaite. If he is forced to miss games, however, Branthwaite could become the ideal solution, with Maguire or Lindelof (or a second central defensive signing) coming in on the right.

There is work to do yet to agree a deal with Everton, but in terms of improving the centre of defence, this is a deal that makes sense for United and Ten Hag.