Manchester United Transfer News: Ashley Cole and Benedikt Howedes Deals Eyed

Manchester United's defensive problems have been well documented this season, but supporters' fears could be eased with reports that suggest Ashley Cole and Benedikt Howedes have become viable targets for the club.

Louis van Gaal spent lavishly in the summer—showering fans with attacking gifts including Angel Di Maria and Radamel Falcao—but the Dutchman's inability to land adequate defensive reinforcements ensures progress has been minimal at best.

Such a realisation had led to reported interest in Cole. United could offer a "short-term destination" for the Roma left-back, who "has his heart set on a move back to the Premier League," according to Anthony Chapman of the Daily Express.

Alessandra Tarantino/Associated Press

Serie A specialist Matteo Bonetti suggests Cole could move to the MLS after a disappointing start to his time in the Italian capital:

Cole was particularly poor during Roma's 7-1 Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich, noted by football writer Juan Arango and Paddy Power:

The former Chelsea defender could offer competition to Luke Shaw, whose fitness struggles have largely hampered his play this season. The youngster isn't proving to be as easily adaptable to life at Old Trafford as many would have expected but needs to be pushed in order to improve.

Right now, the lack of options at centre-back ensures Marcos Rojo—Shaw's only legitimate competition for the left-back spot—is having to play in the middle. Centre-backs Phil Jones, Jonny Evans and Chris Smalling have struggled with injury and are unable to offer the dominance once enjoyed by Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand.

Although the recently departed veterans have struggled at Inter Milan and Queens Park Rangers since exiting Old Trafford, their experience could have made a difference for Van Gaal. This is where Howedes could come in, according to Paul Clennam and Hassan Talib Haji of Goal.com.

Martin Rose/Getty Images

The Schalke centre-back, who impressed in a left-back role during Germany's World Cup triumph, is said to be available for £14 million, according to the aforementioned report. Considering Howedes is proven at the highest level and has years ahead of him at 26, this could be really smart business from Van Gaal.

"I said it before that it could be an option to play for club abroad one day," Howedes recently said, per Clennam and Haji. "To know about a new culture and environment."

Howedes previously put in an excellent performance against United, as noted in the video below:

Clennam and Haji suggest United have scouted Howedes on "several occasions" this season, including during his impressive performance in the 1-1 draw with Bayern Munich. The powerful defender is versatile—a major plus for Van Gaal—and possesses the physical attributes to help shore up a currently unimposing back "line.

It is likely the boss would need at least another world-class centre-back, but Howedes is certainly in the right mould to improve the side. He is well-priced, in good form and has proven himself adaptable to multiple roles without his quality diminishing. Vitally, Howedes wouldn't be a short-term solution and could contribute for years to come.

Van Gaal certainly needs to strike a balance. His side flaunts an outrageous attack when everyone is in motion but is currently halted by a lightweight line-up ahead of David de Gea. Both Cole and Howedes would add quality for little price, business that should be welcomed in the era of UEFA's Financial Fair Play rules.