Manchester United Transfer News: Nigel De Jong, Raphael Varane Eyed for Summer

After a quiet January transfer window, rumours are already circulating surrounding Manchester United's potential moves when the summer rolls around.

Nigel de Jong has been previously tipped as a target for Louis van Gaal, per Sky Sports, a link that has now re-emerged with the Dutchman's contract at AC Milan set to expire at the end of the season.

According to Leggo (h/t Lewis Rudd of Metro), Van Gaal will look to bring his former Dutch national charge to Old Trafford for free in the summer.

Given that long-term defensive midfield target Kevin Strootman is yet again out for some time at Roma, per Jim Daly of the Mirror, it is unsurprising that United are being linked elsewhere.

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De Jong is a quality player and would be a fine signing if he went to Old Trafford for free while his three-year stint previously at Manchester City means he is familiar with the Premier League.

Equally, the 30-year-old may be open to a move away from Milan, who are looking highly unlikely to qualify for European competition next term as they currently sit eighth in Serie A.

However, it is difficult to see where De Jong would immediately fit in at Old Trafford, with the likes of Michael Carrick and Daley Blind having excelled in the centre of midfield so far this season, per 101 Great Goals:

On the other hand, United still seriously need added strength in the centre of defence, per B/R UK's Sam Tighe below, and surely, Van Gaal will look to reinforce the centre-back region at the end of the season, something he failed to do significantly when he arrived last summer:

While the United back line has improved since the start of the term, the likes of Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and Jonny Evans are still too unreliable to build a title-winning team upon.

Hence the consistent links with Real Madrid's Raphael Varane, one of Europe's hottest centre-back prospects who is currently struggling to nail down a first-team spot at the Bernabeu—he has started only eight of Los Blancos' 20 league games this season, per WhoScored.com. 

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Charles Perrin of the Express reports that he is very much on United's radar for the summer, with a £35 million bid already being lined up by the Old Trafford outfit.

Varane is a fine player, a terrific aerial presence and has the ability to start attacks from deep with decent passing acumen.

At 21 years old, he is only set to improve, and United's defence would be much strengthened if they brought him in—though Sport Witness believes Real have plans for his future at the Bernabeu:

With Chelsea also interested, United will have a fight on their hands if they want to sign the French Varane, but he is exactly the type of player Van Gaal should be targeting in the summer.

The centre of defence is where the Red Devils' main issues lie, and it is an area that must be strengthened come the season's end.