Manchester United are urging super-agent Jorge Mendes to help them complete a deal for Valencia star Nicolas Otamendi, reports the Daily Express.
Both Chelsea and Manchester City are supposed to also be interested in the 27-year-old according to the Express, and this could make it even more difficult to sign the Argentina international than it already is, with the La Liga side demanding £25 million for his signature.
However, the Red Devils are keen to sign the centre-back after fellow target Sergio Ramos was made Real Madrid captain [The Independent], making a move less likely to happen. Although there hasn’t been an official statement yet, so it could still turn around for the Red Devils should the Spaniard opt not to prolong his stay at the Bernabeu.
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Otamendi’s agent, Eugenio Lopez, has called in Mendes to organise a move. His client wants to leave the Mestalla after a campaign in which he helped Los Che to concede just 32 goals in the Spanish top flight, missing only three of their 35 matches in the competition.
United are in need of a new defender after having to rely heavily on goalkeeper David De Gea last season. Phil Jones, Chris Smalling, and Jonny Evans all looked error-prone at times, and with De Gea being heavily linked to Real Madrid [Daily Telegraph], Louis van Gaal will need to strengthen in the area. Evans has also been linked with a move away from the club, with both Arsenal and West Bromwich Albion understood to be keen on his services [Mirror].
The Red Devils have already brought Memphis Depay and Matteo Darmian to the club this summer, with Bastian Schweinsteiger [Daily Star] and Morgan Schneiderlin [BBC Sport] set to join them at Old Trafford.