Manchester United Transfer News: Nicolas Otamendi Makes Sense for United

Manchester United's rumoured interest in Valencia C.F. centre-back Nicolas Otamendi makes more sense than any transfer move for yet another forward player.

Otamendi would provide immediate help at an obvious position of need. Signing him would add balance to a squad that has become dangerously bloated with attacking options, while lacking in competent defenders.

Otamendi certainly fits the mould of the latter. However, the 26-year-old former FC Porto man won't come cheap.

In fact, United will have to part with £40 million to convince Valencia to sell, according to Mirror reporter John Cross:

Manchester United will have to pay £40million for Valencia defender Nicolas Otamendi.

The Argentinian centre-half has been linked with a move to Old Trafford in January as Louis van Gaal looks to bolster his squad.

The United boss is desperately short at the back. But the Spanish club will not shift from their £40m buy-out clause and insist they do not want to sell.

However, Cross notes Otamendi only made his debut for Los Che at the start of this season. It's little wonder then that Valencia don't want to sell.

However, it's not so much the fee, or even the player; it's United finally taking steps to fix a leaky defence that makes this rumour so appealing. New manager Louis van Gaal has so far been more focused on stockpiling attacking recruits.

He's spent big on players such as Ander Herrera, Angel Di Maria and Radamel Falcao. Now Van Gaal faces a challenge fitting them all into a team already containing playmaker Juan Mata and strikers Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie.

His attempts to put all the pieces together have consistently left United vulnerable at the back this season. That fact was made brutally clear when Van Gaal's United surrendered five goals to newly promoted Leicester City in a recent 5-3 Premier League defeat.

But the truth is United have looked suspect at the back in every game since Van Gaal's arrival. Swansea City won 2-1 at Old Trafford on the opening day, largely because of how they cut through feeble defending.

Even League One side MK Dons hit United with four goals in the Capital One Cup. Many, including pundit and Daily Mail writer Jamie Redknapp, believe Van Gaal's failure to spend more on defenders is to blame:

Everyone could see that United were light years away from where they should be. They were so obviously short of top defenders and have given themselves a major problem by not signing a recognised centre back.

They had no Champions League in the week and plenty of time to work on their defensive system. There were no excuses and to concede five goals against a newly promoted club is appalling.

At the beginning of the season, people criticised them for using a back three but even with four they let in five goals. Can you imagine if that had happened with a three? It just goes to show there is more to their problems than just systems.

In fairness to Van Gaal, for all the money he's spent on United's attack, he's also signed full-backs Luke Shaw and Otamendi's countryman Marcos Rojo, along with utility player Daley Blind.

But Shaw has been injured, Blind has been called on in midfield and Rojo has barely had the time to settle. At least the recent link to Otamendi shows Van Gaal is seriously thinking about upgrading his defence the first chance he gets.

He doesn't have to pay £40 million for a player barely months into life with a new club. But Van Gaal must make solidifying the defence his top priority in January.

It appears he's ready to start.