Transfer News: Man Utd Fail With €35m Bid For Arsenal Target

With the January transfer in full swing, managers are strengthening their squads ahead of the second half of the season, so we’ll bring you all the latest news and gossip. Today, Man Utd make a huge bid for Arsenal target Nicolas Otamendi…

Manchester United have seen a €35m (£27m) bid rejected by Valencia for centre-back Nicolas Otamendi – whose also attracting interest from Arsenal, according to reports.

United boss Louis van Gaal is beleived to be in the market for another central defender after seeing his options at the back decimated by injury during the first half of the season with Phil Jones, Marcos Rojo, Chris Smalling and Jonny Evans all spending time on the sidelines.

Several names have been linked with a move to Old Trafford but the latest is Valencia’s Nicolas Otamendi with the Express reporting today that United have had a €35m (£27m) offer rejected for the Argentinean international.

The Red Devils were linked with Otamendi when he left Porto for Valencia a year ago but it appears they’ve now rekindled their interest as van Gaal looks for alternatives for top target Mats Hummels.

The newspaper doesn’t state precisely where they got their information from but it seems to have stemmed from well known Spanish journalist Guillem Balague, who made the claim on his Twitter account earlier today.

Whether there is any truth behind the speculation remains to be seen but there have been reports that Valencia are already looking for replacements for Otamendi, with Marseille defender Doria an apparent target.

We’ll have to wait and see if Arsenal now step-up their interest in the player after reports in this mornings Mirror claimed that Arsene Wenger has identified Otamendi as a potential signing as he looks to bring in a centre-back this month.

READ MORE –> Arsenal transfer news | Man Utd transfer news

However, should United or Arsenal want to sign the 26-year-old then it looks as though they’ll have to dig deep as its understood Valencia won’t sell for anything less than his €50m release clause.

United have the financial muscle to meet that kind of fee if they deem it necessary but I highly doubt Wenger would be prepared to spend that kind of money on a defender, so I wouldn’t be getting my hopes up if I was an Arsenal fan.