Why Manchester United NEED to seal this £30m deal:

There doesn’t seem to be a wealth of defensive talent available in this particular iteration of the transfer window. This is a climate where Thomas Vermaelen – a player who hasn’t been in form for the best part of a year – can be sold for £15m.

The two biggest names that keep popping up are Borussia Dortmund’s Mats Hummels and Roma’s Mehdi Benatia. Given the lack of options out there, would it really surprise you to see one of these options move on?

There are a lot of clubs out there looking to improve their defensive options. Take, for instance, The Express‘s claim that three Premier League clubs are readying bids for Mehdi Benatia: Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United. We could have a bidding war on our hands here.

Having sent both Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic packing, you can see why Manchester United might be interested. Yes, they’ve brought in Marcos Rojo, but there’s still work to be done in this department. It would be foolish to think that they could see out the entirety of this season with just their current options.

Louis Van Gaal is a smart cookie. He’ll already have a good idea of the way his squad is set-up and the in-balance that’s deeply embedded within the side. Mehdi Benatia looks like a good solution to their defensive woes.

Over the course of 33 appearances for Roma, the 27-year-old has more than proven his defensive nous. He’s imperious in the air, quick along the ground and he’s positionally sound. It’s difficult to pinpoint a weakness in his overall game. He even managed to chip in with 5 goals last season.

According to The Express, Mehdi Benatia could be available for £30m. That’s a colossal fee, but The Red Devils have already shown a willingness to put their money where their mouth is this summer. If Louis Van Gaal sees Benatia as the future of his defense, then he shouldn’t have too much difficulty wrapping up a deal.

What’s your take? Are Manchester United finally in a position to wrap up a big money deal for Mehdi Benatia?

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