Manchester United are rumoured to be closing on a deal for Lazio and Argentina’s midfield engine room, Lucas Biglia, after several reports in Europe suggest that personal terms on a four-year deal have already been agreed. Louis van Gaal’s side, who begun their Premier League season with a 1-0 victory over Tottenham, have seen a £17 million bid rejected by Lazio in this window as the Serie A club hold out for closer to their valuation of £25 million.

French new outlet Le10sport.com suggest that an agreement with Lazio is all that remains and that the 29-year-old Argentina international could well be joining compatriots Marcos Rojo and Sergio Romero at Old Trafford shortly.

Despite making a winning start on Saturday, there is business to be done for United but most observers would stress the need for a central defender, a striker or another goalkeeper above those for another midfielder.

So why would Louis van Gaal be looking to part with such a large sum of money on a player where he appears to have sufficient resources?

Unassuming and quiet, Biglia may never steal the headlines, but he has proven his qualities time and time again and after playing an integral role in Lazio’s return to the Champions League and cementing a place in the Argentina national side the 29-year-old has displayed a steady development since his early playing days with Argentinos Juniors. In the Argentine ‘number five’ position in front of the defence there are few better in quietly winning position whilst effectively and efficiently recycling possession.

Who is Lucas Biglia?

Hailing from the town of Mercedes, 100 Km west of Buenos Aires capital, Lucas Biglia was quickly spotted playing for his local side and incorporated into the renowned academy of Argentinos Juniors. Before making his debut in La Paternal, Biglia had already tasted success with Argentina’s under-17s when he was part of the squad that won the South American Championships in 2003 and he later captained the side to a third place finish in the under-17 World Championship, scoring in the 3-2 semi-final defeat to Spain.

Biglia’s professional debut for Argentinos followed shortly as they gained promotion back to the Primera but at the end of the following campaign, Biglia made the switch to one of the so-called ‘Big Five’ of Argentine football, in Independiente. In the same year, Biglia avenged the 2003 under-17 semi-final defeat by helping Argentina under-20s to world glory alongside Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero, Pablo Zabaleta and Ezequiel Garay in the Netherlands.

Eventually after continuing to impress with Independiente, Biglia made the step up to European football with Belgian side Anderlecht paying around €3 million for the 20-year-old ahead of Spanish clubs, Valencia and Villarreal.

It did not take long for Biglia to establish himself at the heart of the Anderlecht midfield and after helping the club to the title in his debut season, the number five was also named Young Professional Footballer of the Year. The club was unable to defend the title the following season but it did not prevent Biglia from being linked with a host of big clubs across Europe.

In spite of the continued speculation, Biglia remained in Belgium for seven seasons, notching close to 300 appearances and lifting four league titles. That is not to say that the continued rumours didn’t affect Biglia with his relation with supporters at times strained over his desire to leave and test himself in another league.

That opportunity finally arose in July 2013 fresh off winning another Belgian title, when Lazio provided a route out and a step up to Serie A. The switch to one of Europe’s top leagues did not faze the defensive midfielder and the Rome based club have steadily improved, culminating in them finishing third last season and returning to the Champions League.

Making the most of the opportunity to replace Fernando Gago in Argentina’s midfield has only enhanced Biglia’s reputation but whether it is for La Albiceleste or for Lazio, his understated work often goes unnoticed surrounded by more highlight-reel-friendly attacking players.

Are Manchester United genuinely looking at BIglia for another option?

Biglia is no stranger to transfer rumours, but at 29 years of age he is now perhaps running out of time if he is to represent one of Europe’s biggest clubs and as such it is unsurprising to find him at the centre of such speculation again this summer.

Unlike the dazzling displays of Brazilian Felipe Anderson or Italian international Antonio Candreva, Biglia went somewhat under the radar during Lazio’s very positive 2014/15 season but it has not prevented Manchester United being strongly linked with the Argentine defensive midfielder. It is little wonder with a Champions League campaign to prepare for that Lazio are keen to retain the services of their number five and have just named his as club captain.

Biglia’s acceptance of the armband could have dampened talk of an exit but the 29-year-old himself admitted: “The fact that I accepted the captain’s armband does not mean I will stay definitely. I do not know what will happen next, in football anything can happen, we will see. It not only depends on me.”

Biglia would be open to such a high-profile move, perhaps more so if United progress to the Champions League and Lazio fail to do so, and La Gazzetta dello Sport reported earlier in the window that Lazio would be willing to sell but only if a club could offer in excess of £21 million (€30 million).

The third and most crucial factor would be United meeting this valuation for a position where they have already signed Morgan Schneiderlin and Bastian Schweinsteiger. Question marks remain over Schweinsteiger’s fitness, certainly his ability to play three times a week, and Schneiderlin is relatively untested at the very highest level and so maybe one could argue that Biglia is a safer bet. He would certainly provide squad strength but does a side spend that kind of money to bolster the squad when there are other areas of weakness?

Suppose they do, what would Biglia bring to United?

Solidity and efficiency would be two words that Lucas Biglia would bring to any side and perhaps these are not the most eye-catching of terms and somewhat downplay his role but nonetheless they are crucial.

Since partnering Javier Mascherano for Argentina, the national side has looked far more compact and Gerardo Martino admitted during the Copa America that with Biglia, as opposed to Ever Banega or a more forward thinking midfielder, Argentina are a more solid outfit. At club level, it is very much the same with Biglia allowing those more attacking midfielders to enjoy the freedom while he sits deeper.

The statistics back this up too, with only Udinese’s Brazilian midfielder Allan averaging more tackles per match in Serie A last season. However, Biglia is not the destroyer type of defensive midfielder and although his timely interceptions and tackles are a feature of his game so too is his passing. Only three players averaged more passes per match than Biglia and yet he still maintained a pass completion rate of 88%.

Despite having a good range of passing, Biglia focuses more on efficiency and protecting possession of the ball. Knowing when and who to give the ball to but also when to hold is a vital part of the central midfield and Biglia not only excels in this department but is also comfortable when asked to push further forward.

Would Lucas Biglia be a welcome addition to Manchester United’s title-aspiring squad? Absolutely. Could they also spend £25 million more effectively? Undoubtedly. However, the same could have been said of United last summer when their dealings did not reflect what many thought were their main areas of concern. Certainly much stranger transfers have happened so it remains to be seen if this one is more than just window gossip.