Manchester United Transfer News: Gerard Pique Isn't the Answer to Defensive Woes

Manchester United will reportedly look to lure former Red Devil Gerard Pique back to Old Trafford this winter in a bid to boost their defensive stature, but it's one deal Louis van Gaal should perhaps look to avoid.

Jeremy Cross of the Daily Star states the Spaniard would cost United a fee of £20 million, with central defence now a priority area in need of addressing during the next transfer window. He quotes a source in saying:

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The manager knows he still needs to strengthen his defence and he would love to sign Pique. 

He is a former United player so he knows the club and Pique is a player he can build his defence around. Signing him from Barcelona won't be easy though.

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Pique has fallen out of favour under Luis Enrique with the likes of Jeremy Mathieu and Javier Mascherano establishing themselves as more reliable figures at centre-back.

What's more, a fully fit Thomas Vermaelen, having arrived over the summer, promises to provide yet more competition in defence, leaving Pique with something of a dilemma regarding his chances in the starting XI.

United's 2-2 draw against West Brom on Monday evening was further evidence that the back line isn't of the standard it once was at Old Trafford. Pique spent four years at United between 2004 and 2008, heading back to boyhood club Barca six years ago.

Van Gaal's side, still welcoming the likes of Marcos Rojo, Luke Shaw, Tyler Blackett and Paddy McNair into its first-team ranks, have conceded 12 goals in nine games this league campaign, managing just two clean sheets.

However, following the departures of once-elite figures Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic, surefire quality is what's needed, and with Pique closer to the fringes of Enrique's squad this season, he isn't the answer.

Daniel Tejedor/Associated Press

Pique has started just four of Barca's eight La Liga games this term. Suspension kept him from playing one game at campaign's beginning, but Jeremy Mathieu and Javier Mascherano seem the preferred options, with Vermaelen yet to make his presence felt.

By contrast, Mascherano has started in five league outings, Mathieu has started the most with seven, while Marc Bartra has also made two Liga appearances in the first XI.

Pique sat on the bench for the Blaugrana's away trip to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, arguably Barcelona's most important group fixture. This led Bleacher Report's Jason Pettigrove to question whether he was falling out of favour:

United showed over the summer that money is available to spend, but £20 million is a lot to fork out for a man recently falling out of favour in Spain's national team. Pique has made five La Liga appearances this term, per Squawka, completing just eight tackles.

The 27-year-old recently opened up regarding his future intentions to FourFourTwo (h/t Daily Mail's Luke Augustus), proclaiming that he wishes to retire in his native Barcelona, but leaving the slightest crack open for an Old Trafford return:

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I love this club for its history, its style of play and its connection to Catalunya. I love it here. I am at the best club in the world right now. I have no intention of leaving now or later. I've just signed a new contract and I want to retire a Blaugrana, just like [Carles] Puyol did.

You never know what the future holds, but right now, I love this city, I love the people in the club, and most importantly, I love the institution. I don't see myself leaving.

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And why wouldn't he leave his options open? His Barca status is in major doubt at present, and by season's end the centre-back could find his prospects in tatters, depending on how, or if, he improves moving forward.

Earlier this month, the Spanish international fell into a fracas with Barcelona's traffic police outside a casino, per the Daily Mail, with The Independent adding alleged quotes from the defender:

Enrique insists the club will not dwell on the ordeal, however. ESPN FC's Dermot Corrigan provided some comment from the Blaugrana manager:

Providing money is there to be exploited, Van Gaal needs to be chasing higher-quality, assured options who can come into his squad with guaranteed impact, as Angel Di Maria has this season.

That's not to say the task will be easily accomplished, but Pique would provide little more than a stopgap recruit who fits more due to availability than necessity.