Should Manchester United trigger this £38m release clause?

With the January transfer window drawing ever closer to slamming shut, The Red Devils are running out of time to bring in the quality defensive reinforcements that they so clearly need.

Whilst Louis Van Gaal is spoiled for choice when it comes to attacking options, the same cannot be said of his defensive options. On too many occasions this season, Manchester United have been forced to rely on youth talent, rather than established Premier League players. If they want to compete at the very top of the game, surely this is something that needs to be addressed?

It’s not like there aren’t any quality options out there. The Red Devils just need to be prepared to spend big. If they’re willing to do that then the world is their oyster.

As it happens, it looks like they are willing to spend some money this January. According to The Metro, Manchester United have already had a £27m bid for Valencia star, Nicolas Otamendi, rejected. The 26-year-old is widely regarded as one of the best defenders in La Liga.

He’s tall, physically commanding and he’s pretty nippy too. At 26-years-old, the Argentine ace really seems to be coming into his own. With 18 caps for his international team to his name, I’d argue that he’s ready for his big breakthrough. Perhaps Manchester United could provide him with this?

Unfortunately for The Red Devils, they’re going to have to pay a small fortune to seal this deal. The aforementioned source claims that Otamendi has a £36m release clause written into his Valencia contract. If Louis Van Gaal really is keen on the centre-back, he may well have to match this fee. What a statement of intent that would be.

For The Red Devils to put pen to paper on a deal of this magnitude, they’d have to believe that they’ve found the next Rio Ferdinand. Here’s hoping that LVG takes the plunge and that Otamendi is up to the job.

What’s your take? Is Nicolas Otamendi the right man for Manchester United?

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