Sir Alex Ferguson will make rebuilding the Manchester United defence his number one priority for this summer.
The Manchester United manager has accepted his leaky backline was one of the main reasons why the deposed league champions finished third last season.
United conceded 45 goals during their unsuccessful league campaign - their highest total ever in a Premiership season.
Until we get a stable defensive partnership then you are going to get this kind of inconsistency
Sir Alex Ferguson
Ferguson said: "I think in fairness we have to address the defensive situation and make sure we are in a stable situation there.
"If we get that we will have a marvellous chance. That's a priority for us."
Ferguson has targeted several top defenders with Juventus' Lilian Thuram, Valencia's Roberto Ayala and PSV Eindhoven's Kevin Hofland all linked with moves to Old Trafford.
The United boss has already released Denis Irwin and Ronny Johnsen, but hopes to persuade Laurent Blanc to remain for another season.
Ferguson's dream is to form another centre-half partnership which would be as durable and effective as Steve Bruce and Gary Pallister were.
But having fielded 17 different central defensive pairings last season, the 60-year-old Scot is far from realising that aim.
He added on MUTV: "I always think when the Bruce-Pallister partnership broke up we were never quite the same again.
Ayala could prove a solution to United's defensive woes
"Those two stalwarts played four to five years together, hardly missing a game. That continuity and understanding is something I would love to have again.
"If you look at the centre-back situation, Jaap Stam was out for six months with an Achilles, Ronny Johnsen has had numerous injuries over the years, Wes Brown has had a cruciate, while Gary Neville is injured at the moment.
"Until we get a stable partnership then you are going to get this kind of inconsistency."
The Manchester United manager has accepted his leaky backline was one of the main reasons why the deposed league champions finished third last season.
United conceded 45 goals during their unsuccessful league campaign - their highest total ever in a Premiership season.
Until we get a stable defensive partnership then you are going to get this kind of inconsistency
Sir Alex Ferguson
Ferguson said: "I think in fairness we have to address the defensive situation and make sure we are in a stable situation there.
"If we get that we will have a marvellous chance. That's a priority for us."
Ferguson has targeted several top defenders with Juventus' Lilian Thuram, Valencia's Roberto Ayala and PSV Eindhoven's Kevin Hofland all linked with moves to Old Trafford.
The United boss has already released Denis Irwin and Ronny Johnsen, but hopes to persuade Laurent Blanc to remain for another season.
Ferguson's dream is to form another centre-half partnership which would be as durable and effective as Steve Bruce and Gary Pallister were.
But having fielded 17 different central defensive pairings last season, the 60-year-old Scot is far from realising that aim.
He added on MUTV: "I always think when the Bruce-Pallister partnership broke up we were never quite the same again.
Ayala could prove a solution to United's defensive woes
"Those two stalwarts played four to five years together, hardly missing a game. That continuity and understanding is something I would love to have again.
"If you look at the centre-back situation, Jaap Stam was out for six months with an Achilles, Ronny Johnsen has had numerous injuries over the years, Wes Brown has had a cruciate, while Gary Neville is injured at the moment.
"Until we get a stable partnership then you are going to get this kind of inconsistency."
