Manchester United Transfer News: Latest Nicolas Otamendi, Sergio Ramos Rumours

Manchester United have reportedly tabled an offer to sign Valencia centre-back Nicolas Otamendi.

According to La Liga expert Guillem Balague, both United and neighbours Manchester City have put in bids for the 27-year-old Argentine:

Los Che are unlikely to let Otamendi go for anything less than his £35.7 million release clause, as was previously reported by David McDonnell in the Mirror.

The La Liga club are right to hold out for as much money as possible, as Otamendi is one of the top central defenders currently available for purchase.

He was fantastic as Valencia finished fourth in the Spanish top flight last season and would be a superb addition at either City or United, with his poise and power potentially major assets in the Premier League.

United are currently short on quality centre-backs and are likely to field Chris Smalling and an out-of-position Daley Blind in the centre of defence again on Friday evening against Aston Villa—a match previewed below by Bleacher Report's Sam Tighe:

Otamendi, with his great experience and physicality, could potentially form a strong partnership with the ever-improving Smalling at United. It could be the type of centre-back pairing the Red Devils have been missing since the heyday of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic.

However, despite Balague's assertions, previous reports have suggested United boss Louis van Gaal is not interested in Otamendi, per the Manchester Evening News' Samuel Luckhurst:

If that is the case, then City could be the ones to snap Otamendi up, a move United may regret if he turns out to be a hit at the Etihad Stadium.

Much of the speculation surrounding United this summer has concerned the potential signing of a new centre-back, not least the long-term links to Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos, per Sky Sports.

The move for the Spanish international now looks dead in the water, but according to Cadena COPE (h/t Metro's Sean Kearns), it was very much a possibility earlier in the summer.

Per Cadena COPE (h/t Kearns), 29-year-old Ramos had "agreed a stunning £9.8 million-a-year deal with Manchester United before deciding to stay at Real."

Ramos was reportedly unhappy at the Bernabeu and prepared to make a move to join the Red Devils on a £200,000-a-week contract.

However, the World Cup winner has now opted to stay with Los Blancos and will sign a new contract at the Bernabeu next week, per Sid Lowe in the Guardian.

From his pursuit of Ramos, it is clear Van Gaal sees the need for a new centre-back in his United squad. However, with the Real man no longer available, it remains to be seen who the alternative option will be.

Balague suggests Otamendi is the man, but that may not be the case. A new centre-back does look to be essential for the Red Devils, though, especially if they are to make a tilt at the Premier League title this season.