Manchester United Transfer News: Lucas Biglia 'Bid Tabled,' Hugo Lloris Rumours

Latest reports indicate Manchester United will continue to bulk up their midfield with a bid launched to lure Lazio's Lucas Biglia, but Tottenham Hotspur No. 1 Hugo Lloris may be out of reach for the Red Devils.

Metro's Sean Kearns cited beIN Sports correspondent Tancredi Palmeri, who claims a €30 million (£21.3 million) offer has already been tabled for the Argentina international:

United manager Louis van Gaal has done a lot to solve the club's apparent lack of options in central midfield this summer, bringing in Bastian Schweinsteiger and Morgan Schneiderlin to improve standards at their core.

However, Serie A writer Omid Zamani says there's no truth in the reports linking Biglia with a move to Old Trafford this summer:

It strikes as something of a peculiar deal when considering there's already a great deal of competition in the Manchester United engine room following the arrivals of Schweinsteiger and Schneiderlin.

They join the likes of Ander Herrera, Michael Carrick, Marouane Fellaini and Daley Blind as central options under Van Gaal, who now faces a task in keeping all those figures happy in the pecking order.

Silvia Izquierdo/Associated Press

Of that lot, Schneiderlin is the anchoring specialist, similar to Biglia in that his priorities lie closer to providing a shield for his back four, while others take up their roles in more forward-thinking capacities.

United's chances of signing the South American are also complicated by news that Lazio are offering their star a new five-year contract that would keep him in Rome until 2020, per Il Corriere dello Sport (h/t Football Italia):

Since moving to Lazio from Anderlecht in 2013, Biglia has quietly built his reputation as a steadfast midfield asset who doesn't clamour for the headlines, but he is no less important to his team's operation.

That being said, it's difficult to envision the Red Devils chasing such an expensive move at present when there are other areas in the squad that appear to be in much greater need of evaluation.

Lloris Happy at Spurs, Says Mauricio Pochettino

Hektor Pustina (AP) HEKTOR PUSTINA/Associated Press

One such area requiring clarification is that of goalkeeper, where it seems Tottenham's Lloris won't be coming in as replacement for David De Gea, should the Spaniard end up leaving Old Trafford.

Or at least that's what Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino suggested after insisting his stopper is happy at White Hart Lane, per Adam Skinner of the Daily Express: "There are a lot of rumours. (But) Hugo is very happy to be here. His commitment with the club is high. I think we need to be happy because if Manchester United want Lloris, it's because he's a great goalkeeper."

Dan Mullan/Getty Images

It's true that Lloris' reputation as a goalkeeper has only been enhanced since he completed a move to north London from Lyon in 2012, rising to become an integral member of the Tottenham playing staff.

Pochettino has done all he can to convince his asset to remain, too, after the Press Association's Simon Peach revealed the France international was named as Tottenham's new captain:

There's a great deal of confusion at Old Trafford right now as Manchester United strive to hold onto one of their most valuable players while simultaneously preparing themselves for the worst-case scenario.

The tension of De Gea's situation reached new heights this past week after BBC Sport's Dan Roan reported the 24-year-old was "surprised" at being left out so far this season, despite Van Gaal saying his No. 1 didn't want to play, per the Times Tony Barrett (via Simon Stone of BBC Sport):

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I'm not doing everything alone. I have two assistant coaches and a goalkeeping coach, Frans Hoek. Frans had a meeting with David De Gea. He fully agreed with our decision. Frans Hoek, he has a meeting with David de Gea and he asks him, 'Do you want to play?'."

When the reporter asked about De Gea's reply, Van Gaal said it was: "No."

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The report goes on to clarify that De Gea said not having full focus was the reason behind his indecision, rather than any desire not to play for the club he's contracted to until next summer.

Lloris is held in similar regard at White Hart Lane and impressed for Pochettino's side during a 2-2 draw against Stoke City on Saturday.

The Frenchman would undoubtedly make for a pleasing replacement as far as Old Trafford is concerned, but United would have a hard job convincing Spurs to sell such a valued asset so close to the transfer deadline.