Man Utd Transfer News: Updates On Sergio Ramos & Nicolas Otamendi

With the summer transfer window in full swing, managers are working hard trying to strengthen their squads ahead of next season so we’ll bring you all the news and gossip. Today, updates on Man Utd’s pursuit of Sergio Ramos and Nicolas Otamendi….

Ramos or bust

First up and the Daily Mail are reporting that Manchester United are unlikely to move for any other centre-backs if prime target Sergio Ramos signs a new deal at Real Madrid.

Louis van Gaal has been hotly tipped by the media to bring in another central defender this summer and Ramos has emerged as his No.1 target in recent months.

Sky Sports News reported last month that United had seen their opening £28.6m offer rejected by Madrid but were expected to push ahead with their pursuit as Ramos was believed to have made it clear he’s keen on moving to Old Trafford after falling out with the Spanish clubs hierarchy.

However, the Daily Mail claim that Ramos has now settled his differences with the club following a meeting with president Florentino Perez and he’s expected to sign a new extension at the Bernabeu when they return from their pre-season tour of China.

The news will come as a bitter blow to van Gaal as Ramos would have been a world class signing and a player he could have built his new-look defence around next season, but even more concerning for United fans is that the Mail suggest the club won’t look to bring in an alternative if they do end up missing out on the Spanish international.

The paper says that van Gaal is content to head into the new campaign with Chris Smalling, Phil Jones, Marcos Rojo and Daley Blind as his centre-back options, but Jonny Evans future at Old Trafford remains uncertain.

No Otamendi move

And this leads us nicely on to another report in the Mirror which claims that United have no interest in signing Nicolas Otamendi this summer.

With van Gaal being linked with signing a new centre-back, the Argentinean international has been strongly touted as a target by some corners of the media in recent weeks with many feeling he’ll be the man the Red Devils turn to as a back-up for Ramos.

However, the Mirror claim that sources close to United insist Otamendi is not a player under consideration for the move to Old Trafford and they feel their name is being used simply to ramp up interest in the 27-year-old defender.

I actually though Otamendi would have been an excellent signing for United as he’s been in superb form since joining Valencia from Porto 18 months ago and has developed into one of the best centre-back’s in Spain.

But it looks as though van Gaal has no interest in the South American and is likely to stick with the defensive options at his disposal if he can’t pull off the signing of Ramos before the window slams shut.

Only time will tell if that will be a mistake but I think United could do with another top class centre-back if they want to really push for the title next season.