Manchester United Transfer News: Ezequiel Garay Preferred to Mats Hummels

Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal is reportedly looking to Zenit St. Petersburg's Ezequiel Garay as the man to bolster the Red Devils' poor defence, with the Dutchman set to go after the centre-back in January.

While United picked up a deserved point through Robin van Persie's last-minute equaliser against Chelsea on Sunday, their defence still looks shaky.

Didier Drogba's opener at Old Trafford was the result of poor marking from a corner.

United undoubtedly need to strengthen at the back, and despite consistent rumours that Borussia Dortmund's Mats Hummels was top of Van Gaal's wish list, the Daily Star's Chisanga Malata reports Garay is now the main target:

"

Sources in Russia claim the Dutchman has turned his attention to signing Zenit St Petersburg defender Ezequiel Garay. 

Those sources suggest that Van Gaal, who is reportedly a huge admirer of Garay, will make a move for the 28-year-old in the January transfer window.

"

Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester Evening News also reports Van Gaal's interest in the former Benfica player and points to the fact that Garay is represented by Jorge Mendes. He views this as a potential advantage for United—the Portuguese agent having overseen both Angel Di Maria and Radamel Falcao's moves to Old Trafford in the summer.

However, the Argentinian Garay only made the switch to Zenit for £12 million in the summer, meaning the Russian club will either refuse to sell or demand a very high price.

After 11 games played in the Russian Premier League season, Andre Villas-Boas' Zenit side are top of the table by four points, having conceded just six goals.

Garay and Nicolas Lombaerts have formed a vital centre-back pairing in a defence which has also kept out both Benfica and Monaco in the Champions League.

United have been linked with Garay numerous times in the past—as reported by John Cross and Darren Lewis in The Mirror—and he is seen by many, including Dutch football writer Jan Hagen, as an adequate replacement for the recently departed Nemanja Vidic:

Indeed, he would seemingly offer a great deal more solidity in the centre of the back four than the inconsistent likes of Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and Marcos Rojo.

United would certainly do well to snap him up in the new year instead of waiting until next summer, per Sunday World's Kevin Palmer:

"

Daily Mirror going big on United making a move for Ezequiel Garay in the January window. Cannot wait until next summer for a defender #MUFC

— Kevin Palmer (@kpsundayworld) October 24, 2014"

Whether Zenit will be prepared to let him go remains to be seen, but if United do not strengthen at the back soon, they could well pay for it come the end of the season as they attempt to return to the Champions League.

The Red Devils' hierarchy must hope that Mendes' influence, the draw of the Premier League and a decent transfer fee are enough to lure Garay to Old Trafford, as he would be a fine addition to a talented if defensively weak team.