Mirror: Manchester United's defense remains a concern as Maguire and three others record only four clean sheets in 12 starts together

According to the Mirror, Manchester United's back four of Dalot, Maguire, Lisandro Martinez and Luke Shaw have started together 12 times and recorded only four clean sheets, with defensive stability becoming a concern.

Since Michael Carrick took charge of Manchester United, the team's results have been enough to return to the Champions League, but questions remain over the defense. United's defensive performances have long been questioned, and a lack of investment in signings this summer may have intensified those concerns.

The arrival of Baleba should provide help. The Cameroon midfielder is expected to protect the defense behind him after recovering from injury and making his debut.

However, the four defenders who started for Manchester United against Everton on Sunday local time were the same defensive combination that played in the away 0-4 defeat to Brentford around four years ago.

Then-manager Erik ten Hag spent heavily to sign Casemiro after that defeat. The Brazilian midfielder performed well in his first season at Old Trafford, but his form declined in his second campaign.

The defense formed by Dalot, Maguire, Lisandro Martinez and Luke Shaw has achieved some good results, but there are still doubts over whether they can prevent opponents from scoring.

Carrick has used this combination against Ipswich and Everton this season, and the four players have appeared together 12 times in total. However, they have kept only four clean sheets in those 12 matches, which is not an ideal record.

In the 12 matches with Dalot, Maguire, Lisandro Martinez and Luke Shaw forming a back four, Manchester United recorded eight wins, two draws and two defeats. The results alone may not seem overly concerning, but United conceded 17 goals across those 12 games.

In seven of those matches, Manchester United's opponents scored at least two goals. Two matches this season are included, as well as three 3-2 wins last season against Arsenal, Fulham and Nottingham Forest.

Over the course of a full season, conceding 17 goals in 12 matches would equate to just under 54 goals conceded over 38 league games. Last season, only six Premier League teams conceded more than 54 goals, with three of them eventually being relegated.

If Manchester United want to surpass last season's third-place league finish, they will believe they need to improve defensively. United have had only four Premier League seasons in which they conceded 54 or more goals, and their highest finish in those seasons was sixth.

When Manchester United played at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Sunday local time, Sesko scored late in the match and the team appeared to have done enough to secure victory. However, Maitland-Niles then scored a spectacular goal on his Everton debut to bring United back level.

Carrick told BBC's 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 game because at that moment we were in a very strong position."

After Baleba adapts to his new role at Old Trafford, he should be able to provide help for the defense behind him. However, some have now begun to question whether Manchester United have reached the point where further adjustments to the back line are needed.