Manchester United Transfer News: Nicolas Otamendi Deal Eyed, Latest Rumours

It's been quite a busy couple of days for Manchester United in the transfer window, as they have confirmed the signings of Morgan Schneiderlin, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Matteo Darmian.

The Red Devils' squad is starting to take shape ahead of the upcoming season, one in which they will be looking to contend for the Premier League once again.

However, there is still work to be done in the transfer market, and manager Louis van Gaal is apparently still looking to strengthen in two key areas, according to the Manchester Evening News' James Robson:

The centre of defence has long been earmarked as a weak area at Old Trafford, and recent rumours suggested that Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos was United's primary centre-back target, as noted by Sky Sports.

However, according to Marc Williams in the Daily Star, the Manchester outfit are now set to step up their pursuit of long-rumoured target Nicolas Otamendi of Valencia, as the Ramos move is dead in the water.

Williams claimed that United have already seen a £29 million offer for the Argentine rejected by the club, but as demonstrated over the last few days, they do have cash to splash.

It has long been evident that Valencia will accept no less for their star centre-back than his £35 million release clause, as noted by the Mirror's David McDonnell. That is a lot of money for a centre-back, but it would be money well spent by United, who need a solid presence in their back line, as the likes of Phil Jones and Chris Smalling remain inconsistent performers.

Otamendi was one of the top-performing centre-backs in La Liga last season—hence his inclusion in the Team of the Season, as tweeted by AS:

Physical, intelligent and with an eye for goal from set pieces, Otamendi could bring a Nemanja Vidic-esque steel back to the United defence.

At 27 years old, Otamendi has a good few seasons left as a top performer. Although he will cost a significant sum, he could potentially be a terrific asset at United.

As for options in the attacking department, Bleacher Report's Sam Tighe is convinced that Van Gaal is set to spend big on a new forward rather than promote from within:

With Radamel Falcao now at Chelsea and Robin van Perise departed for Fenerbahce, Wayne Rooney is the only established goalscorer left at the club.

The latest rumours as to who may join the skipper in the Red Devils' forward unit suggest Paris Saint-Germain's Edinson Cavani is being lined up, according to the Guardian's Jamie Jackson. 

Jackson indicated that any deal for the Uruguayan may see £59.7 million signing Angel Di Maria go the other way, but it would surely be ludicrous for United to let the winger go after just one season at the club, according to football writer Sam Pilger:

Cavani is a very talented striker and could flourish in Van Gaal's system, but Di Maria should not be used as a makeweight in a deal to bring the 28-year-old to Old Trafford.

United are currently in the middle of a successful strengthening process as they look to return to European football's elite. A new striker is a necessity in that process, but to then allow Di Maria to leave—one of the world's best players when he moved to United in 2014—would be counterproductive.