Manchester United Transfer News: Nicolas Otamendi Deal, Jasper Cillessen Rumours

Latest speculation indicates Valencia centre-back Nicolas Otamendi has taken a significant step toward joining Manchester United this summer, while Jasper Cillessen is reported as David De Gea's potential successor.

Metro's Will Giles cites reports in Spain as suggesting Otamendi's agent has made a "verbal agreement" that his client will join from the Mestalla this summer on a four-year deal.

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Eugenio Lopez is alleged to have given the move a green light, and United now want to cut a deal with Los Che for £25 million, not even 18 months after Otamendi moved to Spain from Porto for €12 million.

His drastic rise in transfer value has been in large part thanks to some stellar performances in the latter half of the campaign in particular, with Spanish daily AS confirming the defender's place in May's La Liga team of the Month:

Centre-back has been considered an area in which United may consider reinforcements for some time now, despite last summer's acquisition of Marcos Rojo from Sporting Lisbon.

Former Porto star Otamendi would be considered an upgrade on the likes of Jonny Evans, Phil Jones and Chris Smalling, with Bleacher Report's Matteo Bonetti even dubbing him Europe's in-form defender:

Manager Louis van Gaal has been linked with the Argentina talisman for some time now, but any deal will have to wait while Otamendi is away on international duty at the 2015 Copa America.

Giles' report does go on to mention Otamendi's release clause as being valued at £35 million, meaning Valencia will have room to barter, should they judge any offer too far below their expectations.

Cillessen Lined Up As De Gea Replacement

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With De Gea's position at Old Trafford still under a cloud of doubt, Netherlands No. 1 Cillessen is reportedly being lined up for a reunion alongside former Oranje coach Van Gaal.

The Irish Independent suggests De Gea will complete an anticipated move to Real Madrid this month, adding that Red Devils goalkeeper coach and long-term colleague of Van Gaal, Frans Hoek, has tipped Cillessen as a No. 1 target.

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Hoek has followed the United chief along his career path from Ajax to Barcelona to Bayern Munich and the Netherlands national team, now seemingly entrusted as a respected opinion on the matter.

Ajax's stopper stood guard for the Oranje as Van Gaal's first-choice stopper at last year's World Cup, with OptaJohan illustrating his elite positioning among his Eredivisie peers:

Van Gaal's Dutch links may once again come into use this summer as De Gea's link with a move back to hometown Madrid become stronger by the day.

Despite his importance to the club, De Gea "isn't irreplaceable," according to Manchester United icon and former keeper Edwin van der Sar, quoted by the Daily Mail's Mike Keegan as saying:

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There's been a lot of talk lately and if he wanted to stay he probably would have signed a new contract by now. At the start of the season you start with 11 players...nobody is irreplaceable, that's always the case. I'm sure United, if David is going to leave, they are going to find a good successor.

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Van der Sar now serves as a director for former club Ajax and went on to comment on the possibility of Cillessen signing for United, saying:

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I hope United aren't getting him! Luckily I have some influence on that part, being on the board of Ajax. But of course, Jasper is a fantastic goalkeeper. In the winter break I went to Qatar for a week and I trained with the goalkeepers there and had a session with them. He has also improved immensely. 

He played great for the national team in the World Cup and is, like David here, a very reliable goalkeeper for us in Amsterdam. We would like to keep him for a while.

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If Cillessen were to depart for bigger ventures in the future, United fans would be hoping Van der Sar may be kind enough to tip him in direction of Old Trafford, but Ajax remains the veteran's priority.

Hoek would appear to have made his mind up on who should be considered the first option for United if De Gea does intend on leaving, but the question remains as to whether anyone can replace the club's 2014/15 Player of the Year.