Manchester United Transfer News: Naldo Targeted, Latest Shkodran Mustafi Rumours

Manchester United are reportedly eyeing a pair of centre-backs in the upcoming summer transfer window, as Wolfsburg's Naldo and Valencia's Shkodran Mustafi are being linked with a move to Old Trafford.

Naldo played a pivotal role in Wolfsburg's 2-0 upset win over Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday, and his fine performance did not go unnoticed, per Kicker's Thomas Hiete (h/t HLN's Kristof Terreur):

Per Bruce Archer of the Daily Express, Naldo's current deal with Die Wolfe runs until the end of the 2016-17 season, so any move for the Brazilian should come at a discount. And while he's slowly approaching the end of his career, he showed on Wednesday he still has plenty left in the tank.

Per WhoScored.com, he has made 23 Bundesliga starts this season, but he missed a chunk of time with an injury in March. The match against Los Blancos was his first back from the injury.

Michael Sohn/Associated Press

A strong, physical defender who shines in the air, Naldo has always relied on his athletic ability and brute force to dominate attackers in and around the box. His technique is impressive for a centre-back, and he regularly contributes to the attack as well.

Naldo doesn't just score frequent headers―he can take free-kicks from a long way out and has a thunderous right foot, something he demonstrated with this spectacular goal against Eintracht Frankfurt:

The Brazilian would provide United's defence with a dose of veteran leadership and experience, and his value would lie in how he handles the dressing room as much as he goes about his business on the pitch, per Archer.

The timing of this rumour seems a little convenient, as Naldo's superb showing against Real was by far his best of the season. In fact, Stefan Bienkowski of DW Sports thinks his 2015-16 campaign hasn't exactly been stellar:

Wolfsburg's domestic campaign has been a major disappointment so far, and their defence has played a big part in their struggles. Per WhoScored.com, Die Wolfe have let in more goals than all but one club in the top half of the Bundesliga standings.

Combined with his age―Naldo turns 34 in September―it's difficult to see why United would be interested in adding a player whose injury history is so spotty, Wolfsburg insisted on a special clause in his first contract that protected the club in case he suffered another knee injury, per Bild (h/t Goal's Doug Patient).

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Valencia's Mustafi would be a younger and safer option, and Los Che may be forced into selling the 23-year-old to make up for the revenue they're set to lose by not qualifying for the UEFA Europa League, according to Fichajes.net (h/t Metro's Mark Brus).

The team sits just a few spots above the relegation zone and is facing major turnover during the summer, opening the door for the biggest stars to leave. Per Brus, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich will rival United for Mustafi's services.

Here's a look at some of his highlights:

Mustafi rose to fame during the 2014 FIFA World Cup, where he went from being a little-known back-up to a starter in the span of just a few matches. Valencia signed him from Sampdoria shortly after the tournament ended, and the Germany international quickly became the club's top defensive option.

He's a natural fit at the centre-back position but has the versatility to move out wide and play right-back, the position he played during the World Cup match against Algeria. He's a smart, instinctive player who is comfortable on the ball, and while he won't overpower physical strikers, he's won't be pushed off the ball easily, either.

Discipline is an issue for Mustafi―per WhoScored.com, he has accumulated 13 yellow cards in 24 La Liga starts this season―but that's something young players usually improve upon as they mature.

Valencia will face a real battle keeping hold of their top players this summer, and it won't be easy convincing Mustafi to stick around for what will likely be a lengthy rebuild. If United make Los Che the right offer, they'll likely cash in and use the money to kick-start their rebuild.

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