Woodward Ready To Meet Release Clause As Man Utd Plot Swoop For South American Star

The transfer window is closed but managers are planning ahead for January and next summer so we’ll bring you all the latest gossip. Today, Manchester United are linked with Diego Godin…

Manchester United are ready to meet Diego Godin’s £20m release clause as Jose Mourinho looks to try and finally bring in a top class centre-back this winter, according to the Daily Star.

Mourinho was desperate to strengthen his defensive options during the summer transfer window but was left hugely frustrated by United’s failure to sign any of his targets with the likes of Toby Alderweireld, Harry Maguire and Godin all strongly linked over the past six months.

United’s lack of investment at the back has cost them dearly as they’ve made one of their worst starts to a Premier League season and languish down in eighth place in the table after conceding 21 goals in their 12 games so far – 16 more than rivals Manchester City and Liverpool.

Mourinho has made it clear he’s not happy with his current defence and the Daily Star claims the Portuguese coach has informed United bosses they face a serious battle to finish in the top four this season unless they strengthen in January.

It looks like the threat has worked as the newspaper report says executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward is ready to back Mourinho by renewing their interest in Diego Godin after the United boss made him his first choice target.

Release clause

The Daily Star claims Woodward is ready to meet Godin’s release clause, which has dropped to £20m after the South American entered the final 12 months of his contract at Atletico Madrid with reports that he penned an extension last summer proving wide of the mark.

Godin is 32 so he’d only be a relatively short-term solution to United’s defensive issues but the 125-cap Uruguayan international would still be a sensational coup if the Manchester giants could lure him to Old Trafford.

Widely regarded as one of the best centre-backs in world football in recent years, Godin has been a key member of Diego Simeone’s starting eleven in Spain and I think he’d be an excellent addition to the United team.

However, I have my doubts over whether they’ll be able to pull it off as Godin wasn’t keen on a move to United back in the summer and I’m not sure what would have changed his mind over the past few months so Mourinho may have to look elsewhere in his search for a centre-back.