According to reports from The Daily Star earlier this week, Manchester United are considering a January bid for Sporting Lisbon defender Paulo Oliveira.
The 23 year-old signed for Sporting in summer 2014 and made 40 appearances across all competitions last season, demonstrating strong enough form to earn an inaugural cap for Portugal in March this year. He boasts 45 caps for his country at youth level.
The Red Devils missed out on a number of centre-back targets during the summer window, including Borussia Dortmund’s Mats Hummels, Real Madrid’s Sergio Ramos and Nicolas Otamendi, who ultimately joined local rivals Manchester City instead.
The Daily Star, citing reports from Mirror Football, claim United boss Louis van Gaal is ‘considering his defensive options’ after asking utility man Daley Blind to fill in at centre-half for the start of the campaign and resultantly sent scouts to run the rule over Oliveira during a 2-1 win over Rio Ave in September.
They allege the Old Trafford outfit are already considering a bid for the January window, which will be around the £6million mark.
Do Manchester United need to sign a centre-back in January? Comment below!
Also in the news this week:
Man United tried ‘at all costs’ to sign CL-winning forward this summer
Ronaldo, a bottle of wine and Manchester United
Newcastle join Arsenal in race for Belgium strike prodigy
Five formidable forward linked with January moves to Arsenal
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We are very much in need of center back who can clear aerial ball from set peace and corner ball