Manchester United Transfer News: Fergie Eyes Defensive Duo

With the January transfer window now open for business we’ll be keeping you up-to-date with all the latest transfer gossip. Today, Man Utd eye defensive pair.

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has identified Benfica’s Ezequiel Garay and Torino’s Angelo Ogbonna as potential replacements for Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand, according to the Mirror.

Ferdinand and Vidic have been the bedrock of United’s success in recent years but the pair aren’t getting any younger and there are doubts over the long-term futures of both defenders. 34-year-old Ferdinand is yet to agree a new contract while there are increasing doubts over the long-term fitness of 31-year-old Vidic after two serious knee injuries, so the Mirror claim Ferguson is planning for life without the duo.

The report names Benfic’a Garay and Torino’s Ogbonna as his two top targets with the United boss understood to have had both scouted on several occasions already this season.

Garay is a 26-year-old Argentina international centre-back who has excelled in Portugal after three unsuccessful years with Real Madrid, and the 6 foot 4 inch defender has been a major factor in Benfica’s march to the top of the league this season.

Ogbonna is a 24-year-old Italian international who has spent his entire professional career at Torino and broke into the first team in 2007. However, he has really found his form over the last 18 months and has been earning rave reviews in Serie A.

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A manager of Sir Alex Ferguson’s experience knows the importance of planning ahead so it’s no surprise he’s already eyeing replacements for Vidic and Ferdinand. Garay and Ogbonna would be two excellent candidates but they’ll have big shoes to fill if they do make the move to Old Trafford, that’s for cure.

Would United fans be happy to see Garay and Ogbonna replace Vidic and Ferdinand? Get involved in the comments section below.