Manchester United Face Battle From Russia For Benfica Defender

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AVB looks to steal Old Trafford target from under their noses.

Russian giants Zenit St Petersburg are hoping to convince in demand Benfica Ezequiel Garay to join them instead of heading to the Premier League to join Manchester United instead, according to Football Direct News.

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The Red Devils have been tracking the centre-back since Sir Alex Ferguson was in charge, and David Moyes was believed to be preparing a move of his own once he was in place as he viewed the Argentine as the ideal replacement for the veteran Nemanja Vidic.

However, they now face some serious competition from the Russian league leaders after they have sent a number of scouts out to Lisbon to keep track of him over the course of the current campaign and their representatives have already held one round of talks with Benfica over a transfer with view of a second round coming up shortly.

Garay’s representative is super-agent Jorge Mendes – the man instrumental in securing Zenit’s major signings of Hulk and Belgian star Axel Witsel for a combined fee of £64m.

And while a switch to the Premier League would generally be viewed as the more attractive option, Mendes’ relationship with Zenit officials could have a greater bearing over where the former Real Madrid man ends up next season.

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