Manchester United and Arsenal are still short a defender as the January window comes to a close…
Time is running out in the January transfer window and both Arsenal and Manchester United are still arguably short of a defender, with both teams having so far been frustrated in their attempts to recruit a new player.
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Arsenal Transfer Moves Closer As Gabriel Paulista Is Left Out Of Villarreal Squad
Manchester United transfer news
Arsenal transfer news
The most recent reports in the Daily Mirror claim that the Gunners are closing in on Gabriel Paulista, with the Villarreal man having been left out of the squad for their weekend fixture, while the Guardian have claimed that United are targeting full-back Aleksandar Dragovic.
With Arsenal still seeking a replacement for Thomas Vermaelen, who joined Barcelona last summer – and with United yet to replace the trio of Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic and Patrice Evra, who all left Old Trafford in 2014 – there has been plenty of talk about new players coming in.
Below are our top five current candidates across both clubs, with an analysis of which club they’d suit best:
5) Aymeric Laporte (Athletic Bilbao)
Linked with a move to Old Trafford earlier this month by TalkSport. The 20-year-old French youth team international is already an established first-team player with Bilbao, having played 66 league games since making his debut in 2012. Renewed his contract last year with a buyout clause of €27.5m, according to reports in Spain, meaning a potential buyer would have to spend big.
Would Suit: Manchester United
4) Virgil van Dijk (Celtic)
Reports in the Daily Express seemingly ruled out Van Dijk leaving Celtic in the January transfer window, but his ability suggests that a team such as Arsenal could return with a sizeable bid. The 23-year-old joined the club in 2013 and has already won the Scottish Premiership. He looks likely to win a second title this year, while he also chases a maiden call-up to the Dutch national squad.
Would Suit: Arsenal
3) Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund)
The German World Cup winning defender has been regular linked with both Arsenal and Manchester United – according to reports in the Daily Star. While the report also demonstrates the player’s desire to stay with Dortmund for the time being, his sides terrible form so far this season means that he could yet be on his way out – either to fulfil personal ambitions or to raise funds for Jurgen Klopp to rebuild.
Would Suit: Arsenal
2) Aleksandar Dragovic (Dynamo Kiev)
The 23-year-old Austrian full-back made his name at Basel before joining Kiev in the summer of 2013. Despite his young age, he’s already racked up 35 international appearances, scoring in a friendly against Brazil. He won three league titles with the Swiss side while he also picked up a Ukrainian Cup winners medal last season.
Would Suit: Manchester United
1) Gabriel Paulista (Villarreal)
The 24-year-old Brazilian youth team international joined the Spanish side in 2013, forming a formidable partnership alongside Mateo Musacchio. Paulista managed just 18 league appearances last season, but has already surpassed that tally this term. Will he be an Arsenal player before the end of the month? We will soon see.
Would Suit: Arsenal